The effectiveness of Schroth exercises added to the brace on the postural control of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: Case series

BACKGROUND: One of the disorders that may cause changes in body posture and impair postural control is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Scoliosis-specific exercises, such as the three-dimensional Schroth method added to the brace, may be able to help these patients improve their postural control. The aim of this study was evaluating the effect of Schroth physiotherapy scoliosis-specific exercises added to the brace on AIS patients' postural control. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It is a case series study on twenty-three AIS patients. They were treated using the Schroth method and brace for three months, with the first five sessions lasting two weeks and subsequently one session per week. Postural control assessments include center of pressure (COP) range and COP velocity in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions, and the COP sway area in the standing position with opened eyes and closed eyes by the force plate. The angle of trunk rotation (ATR) was assessed by the scoliometer. The methods are consistent with the PROCESS 2020 guidelines. RESULTS: The Schroth method and brace also significantly improved the variables of postural control variables in terms of COP range (p < 0.001), COP velocity (p < 0.001), and COP sway area in standing positions with opened and closed eyes (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) as well as ATR (p < 0.001) in AIS patients. CONCLUSION: Schroth method and brace improved the postural control and trunk rotation of AIS patients.