Oxygen dynamics at paraspinal muscles during exertion using near-infrared spectroscopy in patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis

Oxygen dynamics were measured in both sides of the paraspinal muscles of patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis. The objective was to investigate the extent of stress by measuring the changes in oxygenation and blood flow volume using near-infrared spectroscopy. There were 44 patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis (7 men, 37 women) and 11 controls with no scoliosis (2 men, 9 women). The measured recovery time for deoxyhemoglobin indicated the recovery from energy deficit after exercise. The average recovery time of the 11 control subjects was 2.4 ± 0.7s on the right and 2.4 ± 0.8s on the left. Among the 44 patients the average recovery time was 3.8 ± 1.8s on the convex side and 2.1 ± 1.1s on the concave side. There was a significant difference between the two groups. The recovery time on the concave side in patients was faster than that on the convex side. The results of the current study support the theory that stretching the muscles at the convex side results in chronic increases in the intramuscular compartment and reduced muscular blood flow.