Timely Revisit of Proprioceptive Deficits in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Study Design Systematic review and meta-analysis Objectives The present review aimed to summarize the evidence regarding differences in proprioception between children with and without adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods Seven electronic databases were searched from their inception to April 10, 2021. Articles were included if they involved: (1) AIS patients aged between 10 and 18 years, (2) measurements of proprioceptive abilities, and (3) comparisons with non-AIS controls. Animal studies, case reports, commentaries, conference proceedings, research protocols, and reviews were excluded. Two reviewers independently conducted literature screening, data extraction, risks of bias assessments, and quality of evidence evaluations. Relevant information was pooled for meta-analyses. Results From 432 identified citations, 11 case-control studies comprising 1121 participants were included. The meta-analyses showed that AIS participants displayed proprioceptive deficits as compared to non-AIS controls. Moderate evidence supported that AIS participants showed significantly larger repositioning errors than healthy controls (pooled mean difference = 1.27 degrees, P < .01). Low evidence substantiated that AIS participants had significantly greater motion detection threshold (pooled mean difference = 1.60 degrees, P < .01) and abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials (pooled mean difference = .36 milliseconds, P = .01) than non-AIS counterparts. Conclusions Consistent findings revealed that proprioceptive deficits occurred in AIS patients. Further investigations on the causal relationship between AIS and proprioception, and the identification of the subgroup of AIS patients with proprioceptive deficit are needed.

Prevalence of idiopathic scoliosis in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The prevalence of IS in athletic sports levels was found to be U-shaped in this review. Proprioceptive deficits were reported in AIS patients in a recent review and meta-analysis article by Lau et al 48. A relationship between vestibular system abnormalities and IS has also been reported 49.…”

“…Proprioceptive deficits were reported in AIS patients in a recent review and meta-analysis article by Lau et al . 48 A relationship between vestibular system abnormalities and IS has also been reported. 49 These data suggest that patients with IS experience changes in system complexity.…”

Reliability of a three-dimensional spinal proprioception assessment for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

“…The current results were comparable with research on the repeatability of trunk balance tests in healthy population. Reeves et al [15] documented an adjusted ICC of 0.61 Nevertheless, the unsatisfactory reliability may be due to a mixed of patients with and without proprioceptive deficits [4]. Assaiante et al [17] investigated the standing balance performance of participants with AIS on a rotational platform with eyes closed.…”

“…Studies have shown that some proprioception-related gene mutations (e.g., Runx3 and Piezo2) were associated with the development of idiopathic scoliosis [2,3]. A recent meta-analysis has also highlighted proprioceptive deficits of neck, elbow, and knee regions in participants with AIS as compared to non-scoliotic counterparts [4]. These findings together indicate a potential aetiological association between AIS and proprioception.…”

“…Since the current peripheral proprioception measurements are limited to measure in single plane [4], it may not be adequate to address the nature of three-dimensional deformity in AIS [7]. Prior research has employed motion analysis to investigative the three-dimensional spinal range of motion in scoliotic patients [8,9].…”