Assessment of the functional state of the back muscles in girls with C-shaped low-grade scoliosis in a tensiomyographic image: An observational cross-sectional study

PURPOSE: The study aimed to test the feasibility of using tensiomyography to assess the functional status of the latissimus dorsi and erector spinae muscles in girls with C-shaped low back scoliosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five girls aged 13–15 took part in an observational (cross-sectional) study. The examination involved measurements using the tensiomyography method (TMG). Two groups of muscles were tested: latissimus dorsi and erector spinae on the concave and convex side of low-grade scoliosis. The following indicators were analyzed: Td–delay time, Tc–contraction time, and Dm–maximal muscle displacement. RESULTS: The analysis of Td revealed that values of this variable on the concave side were slightly lower compared to the convex side in both tested groups of muscles. Similarly, Tc values on the concave side were slightly lower than on the convex side of the curvature in both groups of muscles. In the case of Dm, lower displacement values and, consequently, greater muscle rigidity were observed on the concave side of the latissimus dorsi and the convex side of the erector spinae. CONCLUSIONS: The TMG method can be potentially used to diagnose the functional condition of muscles in patients with low-grade scoliosis. There were differences between the functional condition of the muscles on the concave and convex sides of the curvature.