The following study:
“Could the clinical effectiveness be improved under the integration of orthotic intervention and scoliosis specific exercise in managing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? -A randomized controlled trial study”
aims to compare the effectiveness of the integration of orthotic intervention (OI) and scoliosis specific exercise (SSE) with orthotic intervention only.
It does this by assessing-
- spinal deformity (via cobb angle)
- back muscle endurance
- pulmonary function
Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were randomly assigned to either the orthotic plus scoliosis specific exercise group (OE group) or to the orthotic only group. All the subjects were prescribed with a rigid thoracolumbosacral orthosis and a scoliosis specific exercise program was provided to the subjects in the OE group.
After 6 months of intervention, the subjects in the orthotic plus scoliosis specific exercise group showed better Cobb angle correction than those in the orthotic only group. Further, back muscle endurance and pulmonary function decreased in the subjects of the orthotic only group, while some improvement happened in the subjects of the orthotic plus scoliosis specific exercise group.
STUDY CONCLUSION: A rigid thoracolumbar orthosis combined with scoliosis specific exercises offered better Cobb angle correction and improvement of the respiratory parameters and back muscle endurance of the patients with AIS as compared with orthosis only.
https://journals.lww.com/ajpmr/Abstract/publishahead/Could_the_clinical_effectiveness_be_improved_under.98296.aspx
At scoliosis physiotherapy, we are proponents of the Schroth method of scoliosis specific exercises. We have an orthotist within our practice to custom make braces for scoliosis. Our specially trained physiotherapists and our orthotist work as a team to deliver best practice management of scoliosis and indeed all abnormal curvatures of the spine. This article shows good 6 month outcomes demonstrating the effectiveness of a combined approach of orthotic and scoliosis specific exercise in the management of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.