The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of track and field exercise program or pilates program on the cobb’s angle, physical fitness and lumbar muscle in scoliosis middle school girls. Thirty-five scoliosis middle school girls were divided into track and field exercise group (n=14), pilates group (n=11) and control group (n=10). The track and field exercise program or pilates program were carried out under the condition of RPE 11-15 for 60 minutes, 4 days/week for 12 weeks. Scoliosis(scoliometer angle, cobb''s angle), physical fitness(back strength, sit-up, sit and reach, 1,200m running or walking, straight walking test) and lumbar muscle(psoas major muscle, quadratus lumborum muscle, erector spine muscle, multifidus muscle) of all subjects were measured before and after the program participation. All data were expressed as mean and standard deviation, and one-way ANOVA and paired t-test were performed to test the significant levels of differences within and between groups by using predictive analytics software(PASW) statistics program. Significance was set at the α=.05.
Scoliometer angle and cobb''s angle were significantly decreased among track and field exercise or pilates groups, and track and field exercise group was shown that there were significant differences of scoliometer angle and cobb''s angle, compared with control group. Back strength was significantly increased within track and field exercise group. Sit-up was significantly increased within track and field exercise or pilates groups, and track and field exercise group was shown that there were significant differences of sit-up, compared with control group. Sit and reach was significantly increased within pilates group, and track and field exercise or pilates groups were shown that there were significant differences of sit and reach, compared with control group. 1,200m running or walking was significantly decreased within track and field exercise group. Straight walking test was significantly decreased within track and field exercise or pilates groups. Multifidus muscle was significantly increased within track and field exercise or pilates groups.
Our findings concluded that there were significant improvements in scoliometer angle, cobb''s angle, back strength, sit-up, sit and reach, 1,200m running or walking, straight walking test and multifidus muscle in scoliosis middle school girls after track and field exercise program or pilates program participation. Therefore, it is recommended for middle school girls to participate in regular track and field exercise to improve the scoliosis as well as to increased physical fitness and lumbar muscle.