(1) Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) can be associated with vitamin D deficiency and osteopenia. Plantar pressure and stabilometry offer important information about posture. The objectives of our study were to compare static plantar pressure and stabilometric parameters, serum 25-OH-vitamin D3 and calcium levels, and bone mineral densitometry expressed as z-score in patients with moderate AIS and healthy subjects. (2) Methods: 32 female adolescents (idiopathic S shaped moderate scoliosis, main lumbar curve) and 32 gender and age-matched controls performed: static plantar pressure, stabilometry, serum 25-OH-vitamin D3 and calcium levels, and dual X-ray absorptiometry scans of the spine. (3) Results: In scoliosis patients, significant differences were recorded between right and left foot for total foot, first and fifth metatarsal, and heel loadings. Stabilometry showed a poorer postural control when compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Patients had significantly lower vitamin D, calcium levels, and z-scores. Lumbar Cobb angle was significantly correlated with the z-score (r = −0.39, p = 0.02), with right foot fifth metatarsal load (r = −0.35, p = 0.04), center of pressure CoP_x (r = −0.42, p = 0.01), CoP displacement (r = 0.35, p = 0.04) and 90% confidence ellipse area (r = −0.38, p = 0.03). (4) Conclusions: In our study including female adolescents with idiopathic S shaped moderate scoliosis, plantar pressure and stabilometric parameters were influenced by the main scoliotic curve.

We aimed to synthesise the results of previous studies addressing the impact of overweight and obesity on plantar pressure in children and adolescents. An electronic search of scientific literature was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus database, with keywords: “plantar pressure” AND “children” AND “obesity”; “plantar pressure” AND “adolescents” AND “obesity”, “plantar pressure” AND “children” AND “overweight”, “plantar pressure” AND “adolescents” AND “overweight”. Twenty-two articles were included in the review and the following data were recorded: authors, publication year, type of technology (systems, software) for the determination of plantar pressure, study characteristics. Most of the articles used dynamic plantar pressure determination with only four using static plantar pressure measurement. Using ultrasonography with static plantar pressure determination, the correlation between structural and functional changes in the feet of obese children. In overweight and obese children and adolescents, important findings were recorded: higher contact area, increased maximum force beneath the lateral and medial forefoot, increased pressure–time integral beneath the midfoot and 2nd–5th metatarsal regions. Significantly increased foot axis angle and significantly flatter feet were observed in obese subjects in comparison to their normal-weight counterparts. The obese children presented increased midfoot fat pad thickness, with decreased sensitivity of the whole foot and midfoot.

Fracture is one of the most frequent causes of emergency department visits in children, conventional radiography being the standard imaging tool used for following procedures and treatment. This imagistic method is irradiating and harmful, especially for children due to their high cell division rate. For this reason, we searched the literature to see if musculoskeletal ultrasound is a good alternative for diagnostic and follow-up regarding fractures in the pediatric population. After searching the databases using MeSH terms and manual filters, 24 articles that compare X-ray and ultrasound regarding their specificity and sensitivity in diagnosing fractures were included in this study. In the majority of the studied articles, the specificity and sensitivity of ultrasound are around 90–100%, and with high PPVs (positive predictive values) and NPVs (negative predictive values). Although it cannot replace conventional radiography, it is a great complementary tool in fracture diagnosis, having a sensitivity of nearly 100% when combined with clinical suspicion of fracture, compared with X-ray.

Pectus excavatum (PE) is the most common deformity of the chest wall seen in children and adolescents. Besides its visible depression of the chest, this condition often causes functional impairments affecting the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as postural issues. Additionally, the aesthetic aspect of the deformity can greatly impact the psychosocial well-being of those affected. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a tailored physiotherapy program on children and adolescents with PE, focusing on musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, postural, and balance measures. A total of 35 participants diagnosed with PE will be assessed using four complementary methods: myotonometry with MyotonPRO for the trapezius muscle involving all three fascicles and the pectoralis major muscle on both sides, cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a treadmill (including cardiopulmonary function), postural assessment with GaitOn, and static balance-stabilometry with PoData 2.0. These assessments will be performed before and three months after completing an individualized physiotherapy program, which participants will perform daily after proper instruction from a physical therapist. After three months, the initial and final results will be compared to determine how physical therapy influences treatment outcomes in patients with PE.

Background/Objectives: The main aim of our study was to analyze the stabilometric parameters in relation to hip and knee muscle force in children with unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) who had undergone surgical treatment. Another objective was to compare the stabilometry in three testing situations (eyes open, eyes closed, and head retroflexed). Methods: In total, 26 patients with unilateral right SCFE treated via in situ fixation with one percutaneous screw performed stabilometry assessments under three different situations (with their eyes open, with their eyes closed, and with their head retroflexed) and isometric muscle force assessment of the bilateral hip flexors, extensors, abductors and adductors and bilateral knee flexors and extensors. Results: No significant differences between the right side (affected hip) and left side (non-affected hip) were recorded for all of the tested muscle groups. We found significant negative correlations between the 90% confidence ellipse area (eyes open condition) and left knee extensors (p = 0.028), right knee flexors (p = 0.041), and left knee flexors (p = 0.02), respectively. When performing the comparison between the eyes open and eyes closed situations, there were significant differences in CoP path length (p < 0.0001) and maximum CoP speed (p = 0.048); the parameters increased in the eyes closed situation. Conclusions: Better postural stability is acquired when assessed with eyes open or with the head retroflexed in contrast with eyes closed testing.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a 3D structural deformity of the spine that can cause decreased spinal movement, paraspinal muscle weakness, or chronic pain. Our study aims to evaluate biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of the paravertebral muscles in adolescents with idiopathic S-type scoliosis, static plantar pressure, and stabilometry at the beginning of a physical exercise program and after 3 months. The myotonometry performed by using MyotonPro will determine five parameters (frequency, stiffness, logarithmic decrement, stress relaxation time, and ratio of relaxation time to deformation time). Measurements will be taken at the level of the left/right middle trapezius, left/right lower trapezius, left/right latissimus dorsi, and left/right lumbar erector muscles. Static pressure assessment and stabilometry (length described by the center of pressure, confidence area, and speed described by the center of pressure) will be determined by a PoData device in different testing positions (eyes open, eyes closed, head rotated to the right/left, head tilted to the right/left, and head in hyperextension). We expect to record a difference between the muscles on the concave side and the convex side in terms of myotonometric parameters, as well as differences between the initial and 3-month assessment. We predict an improvement in stabilometric parameters after the 3-month physical exercise program.