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Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common spinal deformity in adolescents, but the optimal combination therapy remains to be established. Therefore, our purpose is to investigate the long-term benefits of a scoliosis-specific rehabilitation program integrating pattern-specific manual therapy, Schroth Best Practice exercises, and Gensingen brace application for patients with AIS.

Methods: The retrospective cohort study was conducted in an outpatient clinic, including 54 patients with AIS at a high risk of progression who participated in the aforementioned program. The primary outcomes were the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) and Cobb angle, whereas the secondary outcome was the lateral deviation of the thoracolumbar spine. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately after the program, and a year after the program.

Results: The program led to significant improvements in the Cobb angle (16.31° ± 6.36°; p < 0.001) and ATR (6.6° ± 0.31°; p < 0.001), which persisted even at the 1-year follow-up (Cobb angle: 14.54° ± 7.71°; ATR: 6.17° ± 3.41°; p < 0.001). The rates of posttreatment improvements in the Cobb angle and ATR were 96% and 67%, respectively; these rates remained high at the 1-year follow-up (Cobb angle: 87%; ATR: 63%). The rate of posttreatment improvement in lateral deviation was 100%.

Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report the long-term benefits of an integrative scoliosis-specific rehabilitation program for patients with AIS at a high risk of curve progression. Compared to other conservative therapeutic studies, our integrative approach showed better corrective outcomes.

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