Intratrunk Coordination During High-Effort Treadmill Running in Individuals With Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine if the intratrunk coordination of axial rotation exhibited by individuals with spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (SF-AIS) during running varies from healthy individuals and how the coordination differs among adjacent trunk-segment pairs. Axial rotations of trunk segments (upper, middle, lower trunk) and pelvis were collected for 11 SF-AIS participants and 11 matched controls during running. Cross-correlation determined the phase lag between the adjacent segment motions. The coupling angle was generated using the vector coding method and classified into 1 of the 4 major, modified coordination patterns: in-phase, anti-phase, superior, and inferior phase. Two-way, mixed-model ANCOVA was employed to test phase lag, cross-correlation r, and time spent in each major coordination pattern. A significantly lower phase lag for SF-AIS was observed compared with controls. Qualitatively, there was a tendency that SF-AIS participants spent less time in anti-phase for middle-lower trunk and lower trunk-pelvis coordinations compared to controls. Phase lag and anti-phase time was significantly increased from cephalic to caudal segment pairs, regardless of group. In conclusion, SF-AIS participants and controls displayed similar patterns of intra-trunk coordination; however, the spinal fusion hindered decoupling of intra-trunk motions particularly between the lower trunk-pelvic motion.

Machine learning for lumbar and pelvis kinematics clustering

“…This was a secondary analysis from a larger research project with the focus on the kinematics of the trunk and pelvis captured in the sagittal plane during 3 trials using a reflective marker-based motion capture system (Sampling frequency: 120 Hz; Vicon ® Motion System Ltd, Oxford, UK). The marker setup has been described in detail previously (Li et al 2017; Kakar et al 2018). In brief, the reflective markers were placed on the jugular notch, xiphoid process, spinal process of the C7, T2, T4, T6 and T8, spinal process of the T10 and T12, right and left transverse processes of T11, spinal process of the L2 and L4, right and left transverse processes of L3, and ASIS and PSIS on the right and left (Figure 1).…”

Postural control of individuals with spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

“…For patients with curvature > 40°, spinal fusion surgery may be recommended based on the severity of the curvature, likelihood of continued progression and potential for pain reduction (Kakar et al, 2017b;Lonstein, 2006). Spinal fusion could largely correct the lateral curvature and patients with spinal fusion for AIS (SF-AIS) have demonstrated satisfactory outcomes during high-effort physical activities (Kakar et al, 2017a;Li et al, 2017).…”