Characterization of Visual Perception Impairments in Patients With Idiopathic Scoliosis

Characterization of Visual Perception Alterations in Patients With Idiopathic Scoliosis: Towards a Theory of Perceptual Imbalance

Scoliosis is more than just a curve in the spine; it is a complex, 3D twisting of the backbone. While it can be caused by birth defects or tumors, the most common type-idiopathic scoliosis-appears in healthy teenagers for no clearly known reason.

The Theory of Balance Researchers believe that scoliosis might actually be caused by a "glitch" in how the body stays upright. Instead of the spine curving on its own, the curve might be the body's way of compensating for a poor sense of balance.

To stay balanced, the human brain relies on three main "inputs":

1. The Vestibular System: Located in the inner ear (detects movement).
2. Proprioception: The body's "inner map" (sensing where your limbs are).
3. Vision: Seeing the world around you to stay oriented.

The Goal of the Study Even though humans rely heavily on their eyes to stay balanced, the role of vision in scoliosis has not been studied very much.

This experiment aims to test the hypothesis that teenagers with scoliosis have trouble processing visual information to maintain their posture. By using advanced motion analysis, researchers want to see if a "misunderstanding" of visual cues is contributing to the spinal deformity.

Inclusion Criteria:

Group Scoliosis:

• Girls or boys aged 11 to 18 inclusive.
• Patients with progressive idiopathic scoliosis
• Candidates for either orthopedic (brace) or surgical (arthrodesis correction) treatment for which a pre-therapeutic multimodal assessment is planned.

Control group:

- Girls or boys aged 11 to 18 inclusive.

Exclusion Criteria:

The following individuals will not be included:

• Individuals with another musculoskeletal disorder.
• Individuals with a neurosensory disorder that may affect the balance of the trunk or lower limbs.
• Individuals with uncorrected visual perception disorders (visual check within 12 months prior to the examination).
• Lack of consent from the subject.
• Lack of consent from legal representatives.
• Failure to understand the instructions for performing the tests.

In addition, for the control group:

- Suffering from scoliosis