Biomechanical effects of load-carrying in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a subject-specific musculoskeletal modelling study

In a subject-specific musculoskeletal model of a 16-year-old female with a 59° right-convex thoracic AIS curve, spinal compressive forces rise with load magnitude and carrying height, reaching 721–831 N above the shoulder at 15% body weight.

• Why it matters: Everyday load carrying is common in adolescence, but its biomechanical effects on the asymmetric AIS spine are not well characterized, limiting guidance on how to carry loads safely.
• What they did: The study simulated bilateral and unilateral carrying at the hand, chest, and above-shoulder levels using loads of 5%, 10%, and 15% of body weight, then quantified intervertebral compressive and lateral forces and erector spinae (ES) and multifidus (MF) forces.
• The result: Unilateral carrying showed side-dependent patterns: convex-side carrying increased compressive forces, while concave-side carrying increased lateral forces concentrated near the curve apex; ES reflected external asymmetry with contralateral recruitment, whereas MF preserved convex-side dominance.

AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.