Abstract
Poor spinal posture is associated with several spinal musculoskeletal disorders. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), the most common type of poor posture, is characterised by uneven shoulders, curvature in the spine, and uneven hips. Around 15-20% of adolescents in the community suffer from a mild level of scoliosis (that is, spinal curvature angle between 10° and 20°). These adolescents show significantly lower self-image and poorer daily function. They are unhappy with their back shape and suffer from back pain. This study was an interdisciplinary collaboration that included expertise in social work and clinical psychology, textile technology and orthopaedics (spine surgeon). A mixed methods approach was used to investigate the health-related quality of life issues due to poor posture and/or spinal deformity and their associated risk factors in daily activities and evaluated the effectiveness of non-invasive, user-friendly, and evidence-based surface electromyographic (sEMG) biofeedback posture training for community-dwelling adolescents with mild scoliosis. The results showed that sEMG biofeedback posture training facilitated the active participation of community-dwelling adolescents with mild scoliosis in improving their spinal posture, enhancing their quality of life, and decreasing the likelihood of further curve progression. The findings substantiate evidence-based sEMG biofeedback posture training as an effective intervention in AIS, especially for community-dwelling adolescents with mild scoliosis.
Presenters
Mei Chun CheungAssociate Professor, Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Interdisciplinary collaboration, Posture Training, Health-related quality of life, Community-dwelling adolescents
