Evaluation Of The Effect Of Spinal Orthosis On Tactile Sense And Balance In Individuals With Lumbal Curve And Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

In individuals with lumbar curvature, significant regressions in the curvature have been observed with spinal orthosis treatment, especially with use of a minimum of 20 hours a day. Symptoms such as numbness and decreased sense of touch are observed in the areas where the curvature is located, and changes in the skin structure are affected by the changes in the spine. Sensory testing may vary with changes in body posture. At the same time, the use of spinal orthosis, balance, fat mass, and the presence of pain show us sensitivity to touch on the skin. Sensory stimuli on the skin and trunk posture are interconnected. There are a limited number of studies in the literature examining the effects of sensory test results and fat mass on individuals diagnosed with AIS after using a spinal orthosis.

The purpose of this study is to examine how spinal orthoses affect lumbar curvature, tactile sensation, dynamic balance, skinfold thickness, and quality of life in people with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The 40 participants in the study will be between the ages of 10 and 18, with Cobb angles ranging from 20 to 45 degrees.Consent forms will be obtained from all participants and parents participating in the study.

Semmes Weinstein Monofilament kit will be used to measure participants' sense of touch, Skinfold Caliper to measure subcutaneous fat tissue, Y-Balance Test for Dynamic Balance, and Scoliosis Research Society 22 (SRS-22) Evaluation Questionnaire. Measurements will be recorded before the birth of the corset and 12 weeks after the start of corset use. At the end of the 12th week, the brace will be evaluated for satisfaction with the Brace Questionnaire (BRQ).

Socio- demographic form information will be given at the first interview. In addition to the anamnesis, this form includes questions about whether the person exercises or not, whether there is a family member diagnosed with scoliosis, and the doctor's instructions for use of the orthosis.

Sense of Touch Assessment- Semmes Weinstein Monofilament Kit will be used in the study. This test is one of the tests commonly used to evaluate light touch sensation. Although it is mostly used in the palmar area, it is also used in certain parts of the body to test light touch sensation. Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament test is performed using filaments of different diameters with the same length. The thicknesses of the filaments are 2.83, 3.22, 3.61, 3.84 and 4.31. As the filament diameter thickens, the pressure given and the sensory input given increase accordingly. In the study, in individuals diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and with lumbar curvature, these filaments will be applied to two different regions of the curvature, concave and convex, at T10, L4 and L5, in order from thinnest to thickest. The number of the first monofilament felt will be recorded. Pressure will be applied until the 2.83 mm monofilament, which has the thinnest diameter, is curled, the person will be asked whether he/she feels the pressure, and if not, the application will continue by increasing the filament thickness accordingly.

Fat Tissue Measurement- Skinfold Caliper thickness measurement is performed to determine the fat tissue under the skin. A significant part of the fat in the body is collected under the skin. The thickness of the skinfold is evaluated with a special caliper called skinfold. Measurement is made by holding the skin and subcutaneous tissue with the thumb and index finger and pulling the natural skin piece away from the muscle. It is read in millimeters from the caliper indicator. Measurement of the evaluated area should be done twice, and if the difference is more than 2 mm, the measurement should be repeated. The body parts measured can be listed as triceps, biceps, subscapula, suprailiaca, front of the thigh, inner side of the calf, abdomen, chest and midaxilla. It is known that low body fat is a risk factor for the onset of scoliosis. In our study, fat tissue measurements will be made in the axilla, abdominal, suscapular and suprailiac regions.

Dynamic Balance- Y Balance Test After the foot of the party to be tested is placed behind the red line on the platform, they will be asked to push the distance indicator in all three directions (anterior, postromedial and posterolateral) as far as possible with the foot in the air. After two trials are made in each direction before the test, three measurements will be taken for each direction during the test phase. For each direction, the total score obtained by dividing the best value of the three maximum distances by the leg length and multiplying by 100 will be calculated and noted. The test will be terminated when the person lifts the heel of the tested foot standing on the platform to maintain balance during the test, loses contact with the distance indicator, uses it as support to restore the lost balance and cannot return to the starting position.

Scoliosis Research Society's Health-related Quality of Life- 22 (SRS-22) survey form; It is a quality of life questionnaire created specifically for individuals diagnosed with scoliosis. It includes parameters of pain, self-appearance, function-activity, mental health, and satisfaction with treatment. It also has a role in evaluating changes within treatment. It will be filled in by the researcher together with the patient. It will be calculated by giving an answer value to all 22 questions within a 5-point indicator chart. Each statement has responses ranging from negative to positive. The most negative answer will be scored as 1 point and the most positive answer will be scored as 5 points. All questions will be evaluated under the total result score.

Brace Questionnaire (BRQ)- Recording the evaluation of brace treatment and the feedback from the patient gives the clinician objective information about choosing the right treatment method. It consists of 34 questions grouped under 8 main headings. The domains include general health perception, physical functioning, emotional functioning, self-confidence and aesthetics, vitality, school activity, body pain, and social functioning. The score of each question (between 1 and 5) is multiplied by 20 to reach the final score, and higher scores indicate a better quality of life. Since it questions the effect of corset use on many parameters in a versatile way, it offers us an idea about the quality of life with corset in a practical and easy way.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Being diagnosed with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) between the ages of 10-18,
* Curvature only in the lumbar region,
* 20-45 degree curvature degree,
* Being deemed suitable for spinal orthosis use by the doctor,
* Not having used a spinal orthosis before

Exclusion Criteria:

* Having different diagnoses such as congenital scoliosis, spina bfida, traumatic scoliosis, osteoporosis,
* Having had spine surgery
* Having used a scoliosis spinal orthosis,
* Having an accompanying disease that may prevent the use of spinal orthosis and
* Failure to sign the consent form required to participate in the study