Does the Chêneau brace affect gait pattern and body balance of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis?

Purpose: This study evaluated changes in selected spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters and balance in girls with Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with and without the Chêneau brace. Methods: 15 subjects with scoliosis wearing the Chêneau brace and an equal comparative control group underwent objective gait analysis with the 3D BTS motion caption system. Balance assessment was done with the Kistler platform. The analysis was performed at comparison of gait and balance parameters in patients with scoliosis in two conditions: with and without the Chêneau brace during the study. Results: Statistically significant differences occurred in many spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters both for the AIS group with and without the Chêneau brace and in the AIS group with and without the Chêneau brace as compared to the control group. When comparing adolescents with AIS with and without the Chêneau brace, statistically significant differences were noted in the COP-X amplitude and in the path length in trials with closed eyes. Compared to the control group the following differences were statistically significant: the value of the COP-Y amplitude during the trial with closed eyes, both with and without the Chêneau brace, and the Equivalent area of the COP during the trial with closed eyes with the Chêneau brace. Conclusions: The Chêneau brace in patients with juvenile idiopathic scoliosis affects the level of selected balance and gait parameters.