The Effectiveness of Early Rehabilitation in Limiting the Progression of Idiopathic Scoliosis

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess specific rehabilitation methods’ effectiveness in early idiopathic scoliosis (IS) development, focusing on lower limb functional inequality’s role in scoliosis progression. Materials and Methods: This study comprised 812 patients aged 6–16 years at risk of developing idiopathic scoliosis (IS). The mean (SD) age was 10.66 (3.16) years. Patients were categorized into high- and medium-risk groups based on the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) size. Specific scoliosis physiotherapy was used, and the average follow-up period was 28.1 ± 14.5 months. Changes in ATR, Cobb angle, and functional length of the lower limbs pre- and post-treatment were statistically analyzed across three age groups (6–9, 10–12, and 13–16 years) and three scoliosis locations. Results: Significant effectiveness of early rehabilitation was observed in the high-risk group of children aged 6–9 years. In the medium-risk group, significant reductions in ATR were observed in both the 6–9 and 10–12 age groups across all three scoliosis locations. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in the Cobb angle in the thoracolumbar region and a significant reduction in lower limb inequality across all age groups and scoliosis locations. Conclusions: The early implementation of specific physiotherapy may enhance the efficacy of idiopathic scoliosis treatment by attenuating factors contributing to its progression.

Keywords

• functional leg length discrepancy
• scoliosis
• pelvis asymmetry
• body posture