Altered head orientation patterns in children with idiopathic scoliosis in conditions with sensory conflict.

Abstract

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is the most common spinal deformity in adolescents. Defective postural equilibrium may be a contributing factor. The information of the three sensory systems combined enables the formation of a central representation of head position and body posture. Comparison of head angles of girls with and without scoliosis may result in a difference in head orientation. 25 girls with IS and 16 girls without scoliosis (NS) between the age of 10-16 years stand in a special constructed box on a roll-tilting platform (tilt -14° to +14°). NS and IS subjects behave quite similarly if there is no sensory conflict, but if there is conflict, the differences between the two groups are greater, especially within the 13- to 14-year-old category. The differences between groups for different age categories suggest that the process of development of sensory integration for estimation of verticality appears to be different for girls with scoliosis.