The Effect of Gravitational Traction on Scoliosis of Duchenne Progressive Muscular Dystrophy : a Preliminary Study

Gravitational traction was firstly applied to five nine-year-old patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. They belonged to Vignos' class seven and eight. The traction was applied for ten minutes a day for one year. In two out of five cases application had to be suspended at the first and second month due to intolerance and vomiting, respectively. Cobb's angle became from 11 to 16 dergrees in the tractioned cases and from 15 to 23 degrees in the suspended cases during one year, respectively. Spinal elasticity decreased by four percent in the tractioned cases and by 16 percent in the suspended cases, respectively. Vital capaicty percent increased by three percent in the tractioned cases, but, decreased by five percent in the suspended cases, respectively The number of cases in this study is too small and the period of follow-up is too short, but, the results suggest that the benefits of this gravitational traction are an improvement of respiratory function as well as maintenance of spinal elasticity.