(1) Background: Schroth exercise can reduce the deformity of the spine and improve the life quality and the body image of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). (2) Methods: The study began with 49 participants, aged 10–16 years old, who were diagnosed with AIS. At the end of the study, 37 patients were randomly assigned to either the Supervised (n = 19) or Home-Based Schroth Exercise Group (n = 18) and completed the study. Both groups were treated for seven days a week over twelve weeks. For all patients, body rotation measurements were performed with a scoliometer, surface asymmetry analysis was carried out using an Artec Eva 3D scanner, health-related quality of life was evaluated by the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire, and the perception of the cosmetic deformity was assessed by the Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale (WRVAS). All the measurements were repeated before and after the 12-week treatment. (3) Results: Post-treatment scoliometric measurements showed a significant decrease in body rotation in both groups (p < 0.05). Similarly, both groups observed significant positive changes in SRS-22 and WRVAS scores (p < 005). RMS values were statistically significant in both groups; the difference was only statistically significant in the thoracic anterior arm subparameter (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusion: The Schroth exercise for both groups with AIS improved body symmetry, quality of life, and body image.

Background and Objectives: In this study, the role of oxyhemoglobin (HbO) in subregions of the prefrontal cortex during a static balance task under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions was investigated in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a powerful neuroimaging tool that enables more natural and flexible measurement in the analysis of balance mechanisms and motor tasks. Materials and Methods: Hemodynamic changes in the right and left dorsolateral cortex (DLPFC), frontopolar prefrontal cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex were analyzed in 16 healthy controls and 15 individuals with AIS. The statistical results were supported by HbO contrast maps. Results: Significant differences were found in the cortical activity patterns between the AIS and control groups. The AIS group had lower HbO concentrations than the control group in the eyes-closed condition and completely differed from the control group by showing more active HbO concentrations in the DLPFC regions than in the frontopolar regions. In the eyes-open condition, it was found that the maximum HbO value was reached in the frontopolar regions, and this value was weakened and observed throughout the left frontopolar region. Discriminative differences were also found in the orbitofrontal region in the eyes-closed static balance condition. Conclusions: The results obtained were evaluated and discussed in terms of postural balance compensation, differences in neural pathways, and the conscious balance mechanism. It was determined that the AIS group tended to utilize a conscious balance mechanism in the eyes-closed static balance condition and developed its own balance compensation mechanism in the eyes-open static balance condition. This study concludes that fNIRS is a powerful tool in the evaluation of balance and control mechanisms and can be used effectively in the evaluation of rehabilitation-oriented development in AIS.

Sagittal plane deformity can be defined as a deviation from the normal curvature of the spine in the sagittal plane. This deformity can distort the natural shape of the spine and cause posture problems. In recent years, effects such as reduced activity in daily life, increased time spent in front of computers and mobile phones, and inactivity during the recent pandemic have also led to a significant increase in sagittal plane deformity. In this study, 16 healthy and 16 healthy adolescents with sagittal plane deformity participated. Surface EMG (sEMG) recordings were obtained from thoracal kyphosis and lumbar lordosis subjects, which are frequently seen in sagittal plane deformity (SPD) subjects, and healthy subjects. After filtering the raw sEMG data, wavelet packet transform analysis was performed. The energy values of the wavelet packets corresponding to the low and high frequency components have been calculated. Statistical analysis of the analysed data identified channels with significant differences between the two groups. The results showed that SPD subjects showed more muscle activity than healthy subjects and spent more energy to increase the quality of movements and to perform them with the correct muscle dynamics. It has been observed that SPD subjects develop compensations from different muscle regions in order to perform movements correctly due to postural changes. In healthy subjects, it was observed that movements were completed in accordance with the kinematics of the movement and that maximum movement quality was observed with less energy.

The aim of this study was to investigate oxygenated hemoglobin responses in the prefrontal cortex during dynamic balance in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and to elucidate the compensatory cortical mechanisms underlying postural control as well as the contribution of fNIRS to functional balance assessment. A total of 30 volunteers, including 15 adolescents with AIS and 15 healthy controls aged between 8 and 16 years, were enrolled in the study. Dynamic balance performance was evaluated using the Y-Balance Test, while prefrontal oxyhemoglobin (HbO) responses were recorded simultaneously. Although no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in Y-Balance performance, the AIS group demonstrated a consistent tendency toward lower performance across all directions. In contrast, fNIRS results revealed significantly increased HbO responses in the dorsolateral and medial prefrontal cortex as well as in the anterior cingulate cortex in the AIS group compared with controls. These findings indicate that, despite comparable behavioral performance, dynamic postural control in AIS is maintained through compensatory neurocognitive mechanisms requiring greater cortical resource utilization. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that fNIRS is a powerful and complementary method for revealing the cortical foundations of dynamic balance control in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.