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Muscle forces in the posterior thoracic spine
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|March 1, 1979
Summary
Electrical stimulation of posterior thoracic muscles shows limited effectiveness for scoliosis correction. Current methods do not provide sufficient rotary force or continuous muscle contraction for optimal spinal deformity correction.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Spinal Kinesiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Scoliosis is a complex spinal deformity requiring effective correction strategies.
- Electrical muscle stimulation is a potential therapeutic approach for spinal conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the theoretical maximal forces from electrical stimulation of posterior thoracic muscles.
- To investigate the kinesiology of scoliosis and the potential for muscle-based correction.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a three-dimensional biomechanical model.
- Analyzed forces generated by electrical stimulation of various posterior thoracic muscles.
Main Results:
- No single posterior thoracic muscle provided a pure lateral bending moment or sufficient rotary force for scoliosis correction.
- While lateral erector spinae showed potential, current stimulation techniques lack continuous, complete muscle contraction.
- Ideal correction comparable to the Milwaukee brace is not achievable with current methods.
Conclusions:
- Individual posterior thoracic muscles are not ideal for electrospinal instrumentation in scoliosis.
- Further research into stimulating anterior thoracic muscles is warranted for improved scoliosis correction.