REVIEW ARTICLE
Spine–foot axis in scoliosis: a narrative review
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1
Department of Management Accounting, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland
2
Department of Orthopedics, Traumatology, and Sports Medicine, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Warsaw, Poland
3
Institute of Health Sciences, Opole University, Opole, Poland
Submission date: 2026-02-26
Final revision date: 2026-04-11
Acceptance date: 2026-05-05
Online publication date: 2026-09-30
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ABSTRACT
Idiopathic scoliosis, a three-dimensional spinal deformity, is a common musculoskeletal condition that may affect body biomechanics, particularly the alignment of the pelvis and lower limbs. Here, we review the effects of scoliosis on the spine–foot musculoskeletal axis, assessed by pedobarography, in relation to body balance, pelvic and trunk stability, and gait patterns. We searched for papers indexed in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases published during the last decade. The primary finding reported in patients with scoliosis is asymmetric distribution of plantar pressure, which may reflect compensatory musculoskeletal mechanisms. Scoliosis-related pelvic rotation and functional leg-length discrepancy may alter foot loading. Chronic, unequal foot loading may be associated with structural defects, such as flatfoot or pes cavus, and gait pattern abnormalities. Pedobarography is a valuable tool for assessing the structure and function of the spine–foot axis and for evaluating the adverse biomechanical consequences of scoliosis.
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