Electrical stimulation methods for scoliosis in children: a literature review

Introduction. Scoliosis is one of the most common orthopedic diseases of childhood and adolescence, leading to disability and reducing the child’s quality of life. The prevalence of scoliosis in the structure of pediatric orthopedic pathology reaches 30 %. In 50 % of cases, the disease is characterized by a severe progressive course, especially during puberty. Aim. Studying the effectiveness of electrical stimulation methods for scoliosis in children to develop recommendations for their practical use based on the analysis of systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials. Materials and methods. The search was carried out using the database of evidence-based physiotherapy PubMed, Cyberleninka and eLIBRARY using the keywords: «electrical stimulation», «pulse currents», «scoliosis», «children» for the period from 2008–2024.Exclusion criteria: articles published on this topic before 2008. Main content. The main methods of physiotherapy used in the treatment of scoliosis in children are electrotherapy methods, among which electrical stimulation plays a leading role. The advantage of electrical stimulation for scoliosis in children is to provide training in the strength and tone of the back muscles on the side of the deformity. Electrical stimulation is indicated for scoliosis of I and II degrees. The greatest effect in the correction of scoliotic spinal deformity in children is observed with the combined use of electrical stimulation and exercise therapy. This review provides data on the relevance of medical rehabilitation of scoliosis in children, the mechanism of action of electrical stimulation, data on the effectiveness of using electrical stimulation methods for scoliosis in children: sinusoidal modulated currents, diadynamic therapy, transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation, interference therapy, fluctuarization and functional programmable electrical stimulation. Conclusion. Currently, a wide range of electrical stimulation technologies has been developed for the medical rehabilitation of children with scoliosis, among which sinusoidally modulated currents and diadynamic currents are most often used. Transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation, having a predominantly antinociceptive effect, also has an effect on muscle contractions. Functional programmable electrical stimulation of muscles is a promising technology for medical rehabilitation of children with scoliosis, requiring further study and scientific justification.