The Effect of Curve Type Determined According to the Rigo Classification on Respiratory Muscle Strength, Quality of Life, and Functional Status in Individuals Diagnosed With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a disorder that occurs between the ages of 10 and 18, with an unknown etiology, and is characterized by a three-dimensional deformity of the spine. It is often asymptomatic at onset but may progressively lead to cosmetic and functional impairments over time. The Rigo classification, which evaluates the structural characteristics of scoliosis, is a three-dimensional functional classification system that takes into account the direction of the curve and the involved spinal regions

In studies conducted on individuals with AIS, a significant reduction in respiratory muscle strength (MIP-Maximum Inspiratory Pressure and MEP-Maximum Expiratory Pressure) has been observed, and this condition has been associated with thoracic rigidity and decreased physical activity . In individuals with AIS, a significant negative correlation has been reported between Cobb angle and FVC and FEV₁ values, as well as a moderate negative correlation between trunk rotation angle (ATR) and respiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP). In light of these findings, it has been shown that as the severity of scoliosis increases, lung volumes decrease, and that scoliosis may affect respiration not only through a two-dimensional curvature angle but also through three-dimensional structural changes such as trunk rotation. Curves concentrated in the thoracic region according to the Rigo classification demonstrate more pronounced reductions in MIP and MEP values

The impact of AIS on quality of life has been evaluated, and it has been reported that individuals with AIS score lower than healthy individuals in domains such as body image, pain, mental health, and function