Ergospirometry in individuals with idiopathic scoliosis

Abstract

Idiopathic scoliosis is a disorder of the spine that tends to reduce rib cage diameter, flexibility, and excursion, which might affect pulmonary function. The purpose here was to assess whether there is a relationship between the degree of scoliosis and pulmonary function and exercise capacity in subjects with mild to moderate idiopathic scoliosis. Seventeen subjects with mild to moderate idiopathic scoliosis and 19 controls underwent lung test at rest and during exercise on a treadmill. Mean pulmonary variables at rest were within normal parameters in both groups; during exercise, oxygen uptake (p=0.81), exercise time (p=0.68), heart rate (p=0,39), minute ventilation (p=0.82), carbon dioxide production (p=0.95), respiratory quotient (p=0.09), ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (p=0.90), and blood lactate concentration (p=0.98) did not show statistically significant differences between the groups. No cause-effect relationship could be established between the degree of scoliosis, pulmonary function and aerobic capacity, thus showing that scoliosis does not necessarily imply functional loss, and pointing to training as an important preventive measure.