Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Operated Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

In adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), if the appropriate treatment approach is not applied, the patient\'s general health condition is negatively affected by the deterioration of pulmonary function. Although studies in the literature evaluate individuals with AIS and investigate the effects of exercise training on their functional capacity, no study has been found examining the effectiveness of post-surgical respiratory muscle strength training (IMT). Therefore, this study was designed as a randomized controlled study with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of IMT in the early post-surgical period in individuals with AIS. Participants included individuals diagnosed with AIS, for whom a surgical decision was made by an orthopedic surgeon, and who could cooperate in the tests to be conducted. Twelve patients were in the IMT group, and 12 were in the sham group. Pulmonary function and respiratory and peripheral muscle strength were measured. Functional capacities were assessed using the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Disease-specific quality of life (QoL) was evaluated through the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) and Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire, while dyspnea was assessed using the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale. In the IMT group, IMT was provided at 60% of the Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), while in the Sham group, IMT was provided at 5% of MIP.