Relationship between the curve type, magnitude, type of surgery and the locomotor function in adolescent females with scoliosis: A pre and post-operative assessment

Scoliosis or curvature of the spine is one of the major skeletal diseases in growing children where in the majority of patients the cause is unknown (idiopathic scoliosis). In some cases, there is a gradual worsening of the condition and the appearance of the trunk. Commonly the first indicators of the presence of the condition can include changes in the surface shape of the back, clothing not fitting properly, and hems hanging unevenly.

Our previous research shows that motion capture technology can accurately detail human movement, but little is known on how regions of the spine move while walking before and following surgery. If we can establish a relationship between shape and size of the spinal curvature and the day to day activities of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, we can contribute to the development of effective treatment options. We can also use the same technique to compare differences in walking and moving between patients that have had different types of surgery.

The novel techniques for data collection and analysis proposed within study has not been carried out in a clinical population of this nature. It has already been shown useful in describing human movement in a different way which makes it easy for the practitioner to understand the relationship between various body segments in question. The use of this technique has a huge potential to have an impact on not only the development of instrumentation but also surgical techniques.

Lead researcher

Professor Nachiappan Chockalingam

Professor Of Clinical Biomechanics

As Professor of Clinical Biomechanics, I direct the Movement Analysis Laboratory and lead the biomechanics team and research at Staffordshire University. I am also an Affiliate Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta

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Associated researcher

Robert Needham

Senior Lecturer

Robert's research background is in the areas of sport and clinical biomechanics. The focus of his research is on the application of non-linear data analysis techniques to quantify movement coordination and coordination variability. Robert's rese…

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Collaborators and funding

In collaboration with University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust.

Funding support from the British Scoliosis Research Foundation.

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