Resumen de Treatment of scoliosis by global postural reeducation (GPR) in totally visually impaired individuals: a case series
Graziela Morgana Silva Tavares, Caroline Cunha do Espírito Santo, Patrícia Parizotto, Fabiana Flores Sperandio, Gilmar Moraes Santos
Aims: To assess scoliosis in totally visually impaired young adults by radiological examinations before and after Global Postural Reeducation (GPR).
Methods: Totally visually impaired subjects, aged 18 to 40 years, able to stand up on their own, with presence of rib hump on physical examination, attending an educational institution for the visually impaired in Florianopolis, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, were intentionally selected. Subjects with vestibular disorders, pregnant women, diabetics, and amputees were excluded. The radiological data were collected in a reference laboratory specializing in imaging in the State of Santa Catarina before and after eight GPR sessions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the paired-sample t test.
Results: The initial sample consisted of nine individuals; however, three subjects were lost due to withdrawal, suspected pregnancy, and relocation; thus, the final sample consisted of six subjects (four males and two females) with a mean age of 34.66 ± 4.27 years. The results showed that after eight GPR sessions, the Cobb angle decreased in four subjects, was maintained in one, and increased in another one. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the Cobb angle (p = 0.16) between pre-treatment (8.91º±4.52º) and post-treatment (5.83º± 4.52º).
Conclusions: Global postural reeducation after eight sessions did not alter the mean magnitude of scoliosis curvature of six individuals with totally impaired vision. However, the Cobb angle decreased in most subjects (four out of six).
