Some combined scoliosis treatments showed short-term effects on spinal curvature
In adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, certain combined treatments improved a curvature measure compared with minimal intervention. Later effects were not established.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Combined treatments involving scoliosis-specific exercises or mind-body exercise showed short-term improvements in Cobb angle, a measure of spinal curvature, compared with minimal intervention. Bracing alone showed evidence for preventing progression, but bracing or scoliosis-specific exercises alone probably made little or no difference to several other outcomes. The review found no evidence about later effects.
There was no follow-up evidence. The abstract also leaves minimal intervention undefined and does not establish whether curvature changes translated into lasting improvements in daily life.
Which combinations showed effects
The combinations were bracing with scoliosis-specific physiotherapy exercises, manual therapy with those exercises, and manual therapy with mind-body exercise. The review assigned moderate certainty to their effects on the curvature measure assessed after treatment.
Progression and other outcomes
Preventing worsening is a different outcome from improving current curvature. Bracing alone had favorable progression evidence, while several other outcomes showed little or no difference. No serious adverse events were identified in the included interventions.
The original publication
Comparative efficacy of conservative interventions for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Ren J, Wang S, Li M et al.
Syst Rev · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40739527
- Record checked
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