Home Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Children with Early Onset Scoliosis
IMT at Home
What is the goal of the study?
The goal of this project is to improve quality of life and pulmonary outcomes in children with severe early onset scoliosis (EOS) with an at-home pulmonary rehabilitation program. Children with severe EOS develop restrictive lung disease secondary to spine and thoracic deformity. Surgical treatments of EOS prevent progression in restrictive pulmonary disease but rarely improve lung function,1,2 which is the major cause of mortality in adulthood in this population.3 Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is a pulmonary rehabilitation method in which a patient exercises breathing muscles by inspiring against a pressure threshold device customized to the patient’s ability. The device is inexpensive, and rehabilitation can be performed at home. We will train families to use IMT at home daily for 8 weeks in a prospective pilot study in older patients (Age > 8 years) with EOS but without underlying neuromuscular weakness conditions.
Who can participate in the study?
Please contact the study team listed below to learn more.