Objective Assessment of the Cardiorespiratory Function of Adolescents With Idiopathic Scoliosis Through the Six-Minute Walk Test

Study Design. Clinical prospective, random study. Objective. Analyze the results of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Summary of Background Data. Although it is widely believed that Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) causes cardiorespiratory dysfunctions, there is no report in literature of objective measurements of this restriction in the ventilatory performance during physical exertion. Methods. One hundred twenty-six adolescents matched by gender and age were prospectively studied at a tertiary teaching institution: 40 patients without spine deformities (group I-controls), and 86 patients with AIS with a spine curve ranging from 45 degrees to 138 degrees (group II). All patients underwent radiographic evaluations and the 6MWT. Results. Normal controls presented significantly lower mean heart rate and Borg scores, as well as higher oxygen saturation and walked longer distances on the 6MWT. Conclusion. The 6MWT effectively demonstrated the cardiorespiratory restrictions presented by patients with AIS.