Influence of trunk posture on spinal loading and paraspinal muscle forces in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a subject-specific musculoskeletal modelling study

Abstract

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) alters spinal geometry and may influence the biomechanical response of the spine during functional postures. However, posture-dependent changes in spinal loading and paraspinal muscle forces in AIS remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of trunk posture on intervertebral loading and paraspinal muscle forces using a subject-specific musculoskeletal model of an adolescent with AIS. The spinal deformity was reconstructed from biplanar radiographs and incorporated into a full-body musculoskeletal model. Flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation were simulated at three incremental magnitudes, with motion distributed across the thoracolumbar spine. Intervertebral compressive and lateral forces around the curve apex and forces in the erector spinae (ES) and multifidus (MF) muscles were evaluated. Trunk flexion produced the greatest compressive loading, reaching 337 N at the curve apex and 372 N two levels below the apex at 30{degrees} flexion. Lateral bending produced pronounced direction-dependent loading: concave-side bending increased lateral forces, whereas convex-side bending increased compressive forces. Axial rotation produced similar but smaller direction-dependent changes. Paraspinal muscle forces were consistently asymmetric, with concave-side dominance of the ES and convex-side dominance of the MF. Flexion and convex-sided movements generally produced greater muscle imbalance, while increasing posture magnitude amplified spinal loading and muscle forces. These findings demonstrate that trunk posture, movement direction, and magnitude substantially influence the biomechanical environment of the scoliotic spine and should be considered when evaluating spinal mechanics in AIS.