Publications
Acute Effect of Physio-logic® Exercises on Muscle Tone and Stiffness in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Nur Kesin Yigit 1, Tugba Kuru Colak 2, Ugur Ozdemir 3, Ozan Bahadir Turkmen 4, Burcin Akcay Genal 5
Affiliations:
- Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Balikesir, Turkey
- Marmara University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Istanbul, Turkey
- Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Balikesir, Turkey
- Bandırma Onyedi Eylul University, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Balikesir, Turkey
- Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Izmir, Turkey
Journal: Studies in Health Technology and Informatics - June 2026, Volume 337, Pages 231-235 (DOI: 10.3233/SHTI260778)
-
Field & Applications:
- Medical
- Treatment evaluation
- Pediatrics
- Orthopedics
- Musculoskeletal disorder
- Musculoskeletal rehabilitation
- Physiotherapy
Scoliosis is a three-dimensional structural deformity of the spine characterized by lateral curvature, vertebral axial rotation, and alterations in sagittal physiological curves. Physio-logic® exercises have been reported to correct deformity in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients by reducing the degree of trunk rotation. The purpose of this preliminary study was therefore to examine the acute effect of Physio-logic® exercises on muscle tone and stiffness of trunk muscles in patients with idiopathic scoliosis.
Five patients diagnosed with AIS, with a mean age of 16.2 years and a mean Cobb angle of 24.8 degrees, were included in the study. Participants underwent a single session of Physio-logic® exercises targeting the improvement of sagittal physiological curvatures of the spine, applied regardless of curve type. Muscle tone and stiffness of the trapezius, erector spinae, and latissimus dorsi muscles were assessed bilaterally using the MyotonPRO device, and the angle of trunk rotation was measured with a scoliometer, both before and after the exercise session
Following the exercise, decreases in muscle tone were observed in the trapezius (right: 7.23%, left: 3.75%), upper latissimus dorsi (right: 9.34%, left: 5.10%), and lower latissimus dorsi (right: 7.69%, left: 1.70%), while an increase in tone was detected in the erector spinae (right: 1.75%, left: 4.32%). Similarly, stiffness decreased in the trapezius (right: 18.38%, left: 9.20%), upper latissimus dorsi (right: 19.65%, left: 5.92%), and lower latissimus dorsi (right: 19.48%, left: 4.02%), whereas erector spinae stiffness increased bilaterally (right: 6.37%, left: 9.03%).
These findings indicate that a single session of Physio-logic® exercises produces acute and differential modulation of trunk muscle tone and stiffness in AIS patients, with consistent reductions in the superficial back muscles and concurrent increases in the erector spinae. As this is a preliminary study evaluating acute efficacy, further investigations with larger samples are needed to examine the long-term changes in muscle tone and stiffness associated with Physio-logic® exercises, as well as the differential effects across distinct scoliotic curve types.
Keywords: adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, Physio-logic® exercises, tone, stiffness
A single session of Physio-logic® exercises induces acute, differential changes in trunk muscle biomechanics in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, characterized by decreased tone and stiffness in the trapezius and latissimus dorsi and increased tone and stiffness in the erector spinae bilaterally. These findings suggest rapid neuromuscular rebalancing consistent with sagittal postural correction; however, larger randomized controlled trials are required to confirm long-term clinical efficacy and applicability across varying curve types and severity levels.