Impact of Scoliosis Severity on Functional Capacity in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the walked distance and physiological responses during incremental shuttle walk test in patients with different degrees of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods: We evaluated 20 healthy teenagers and 46 patients with AISthey were divided into 2 groups: AIS > 45 degrees and AIS 45 degrees presented significant reduced incremental shuttle walked distance compared with the AIS < 45 degrees and control group [447 (85), 487 (95), and 603 (85), respectively]. Patients with AIS also showed reduced forced vital capacity (P = .001) and expiratory volume in the first second (P = .005) compared with control group. Moderate correlations between forced vital capacity (r = -.506) and tidal volume (r = -.476) with scoliosis angles were found. Conclusions: The incremental shuttle walk test was capable of identifying reduced functional capacity in patients with different degrees of AIS. Moreover, the severity of spinal curvature may exert influence on ventilatory and metabolic variables.Fed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Human Movement Sci, Lab Epidemiol & Human Movement, Santos, SP, BrazilAlbert Einstein Hosp, Dept Orthoped, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Human Movement Sci, Lab Epidemiol & Human Movement, Santos, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc