Physiotherapy Interventions for Preventing Spinal Curve Progression in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is an abnormal curvature of the spine that appears in late childhood or adolescence. The aim of this systematic review was to present and synthesize the most relevant therapeutic advice and evidence on the efficacy of physiotherapy exercises for preventing the growth of spinal curvature caused by adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. "Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis," "exercise," "Cobb angle," and "physiotherapy" were the sole keywords used for the published research. Using these keywords and a combination of them, electronic resources such as PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Elton B. Stephens Company (EBSCO) host, and ScienceDirect (Elsevier) were searched. The search was restricted to studies that were conducted in English between 2010 and 15 January 2022 that were controlled, randomized, and non-randomized. Studies were selected based on their titles and abstracts, with the exception of any that did not pertain to the study's goals. The Cobb angle was the important outcome measure. For each intervention, the Cobb angle's mean change score, the difference between the final and baseline scores, was determined. Nine studies were evaluated to be of outstanding quality out of a total of 20 studies that were reviewed for eligibility. With an exercise regimen of at least seven weeks, controls on lowering the Cobb angle in patients with AIS would provide encouraging outcomes. It also shows that bracing can strengthen the Cobb angle compared to exercise in the community. However, long-term orthotic activity ultimately results in trunk resistance and muscle loss in the center of the back. The combination of techniques and treatment methods seems to have better results in treating scoliosis, particularly using exercises involving the Schroth and scientific exercise approach to scoliosis (SEAS).