Plastic changes in spinal function of pre-pubescent scoliotic children engaged in an exercise therapy programme

Abstract

Previous studies of the effect of exercise therapy on scoliosis have demonstrated progression of spinal curves despite vigorous exercise regimens. This study presents evidence to the contrary. Ten children with functional scoliosis and attendant upper thoracic asymmetries were analyzed both before and after a specific exercise therapy programme, in order to determine the effect of the therapy on spinal functionality and the scoliotic curve. The effect of this intensive treatment, in which the subjects underwent a five-month exercise training programme with a total of 60 one-hour sessions, was investigated in a controlled clinical trial. A subjective and objective appraisal of posterior trunk asymmetry in schoolchildren aged 7-18 is reported. Selected functional and anthropometric measurements were made before and after the treatment, and antero-posterior x-rays were used to indicate changes in the scoliotic curve. New methods are described for quantifying the scoliotic curves in each child. Post-treatment tests showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in Cobb's angles as well as a significant reduction in all the spinal and thoracic functional asymmetries observed in the study. The findings suggest that selective exercise programmes can contribute to improvement in cases of functional scoliosis. The study sheds new light on problems related to scoliosis and the benefits of exercise rehabilitation. Data on the incidence of scoliosis amongst 1052 black children are also presented and discussed.