Click here to view the PDF of Scoliosis Feature – Review of the Literature: Non-operative Scoliosis Treatment from The American Chiropractor.

Click here to view the PDF of News To The Profession – The Scoliosis Care Foundation Calls on the Chiropractic Profession for Help from The American Chiropractor.

from 4th International Conference on Conservative Management of Spinal Deformities
Boston, MA, USA. 13–16 May 2007

The electronic version of this abstract is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.scoliosisjournal.com/content/2/S1/S23

Objective

To determine if non-surgical treatment using the Spinecor brace can effectively reduce adult scoliosis curvature magnitude.

Study design

Twenty-three adults between the ages eighteen and sixty-five years, seeking treatment for adolescent onset idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) were fitted with the Spinecor Orthosis [1] after being exposed to an anterior-posterior (AP) full spine and lateral full spine radiograph, with a minimum of three months between exposures and a maximum of one year. Measurements of the radiographs were performed using a digital inclinometer in order to reduce error and all projections were exposed without the orthosis.

Results

Patients were separated into three groups based on curvature location: Thoracic (T), Thoracolumbar (TL) and Lumbar (L). T-tests were performed using the initial and follow-up Cobb measurements of AP radiographs for each of the three groups. The maximum (T) reduced from 94 degrees to 77 degrees (-12.2%) following a minimum of three months of treatment. The maximum (TL) measurement reduced from 31 degrees to 23 degrees (-13.4%), and the (L) minimum reduced from 17 degrees to 11.1 degrees (-15.3%). The patients in the “Thoracic” group (n = 20) had a mean average change of -5.27 degrees. The “Thoracolumbar” group (n = 3) had a mean average change of -6.0 degrees. The Lumbar group (n = 15) had a mean average change of -4.40 degrees.

Conclusion

These findings suggest the use of a flexible strapping orthosis (Spinecor) is an effective tool in the management of adult scoliosis. Long term studies are necessary to determine the sustainability of these early positive results.

References

Coillard C, Leroux MA, Badeaux J, Rivard CH: SPINECOR: a new therapeutic approach for idiopathic scoliosis.

Stud Health Technol Inform 2002, 88:215-217. PubMed Abstract

At 2 years follow-up there was an overall correction of greater than 5° for 55% of the patients, 38% had a stabilization and 7% had worsened by more than 5°. This initial cohort of patients demonstrated a general trend of initial decrease in spinal curvature in brace, followed by a correction and/or stabilization at the end of treatment, which was maintained through 1, and 2 years’ follow-up.

Click here to download and view the PDF.

Click here to download and view the PDF.

Click here to download and view the PDF.

• Current Concepts in Idiopathic Scoliosis Research
• Causes of Idiopathic Scoliosis
• The Role of Physical Exercise in Scoliosis Management
• Progressive Scoliosis in CNS Injury
• Chiropractic Vestibular Rehabilitation
• Non surgical Management of Scoliosis Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Jan 2004
• Otolith Testing is Recommended as Screening for Patients with Scoliosis
• Neural Mechanisms in Idiopathic Scoliosis Etiology. Procedings from the Philip Zorab Conference
• Dr. Deutchman and Dr. Lamantia Presenting at SOSORT May 2007
• Dr. Deutchman presenting @ the 2nd Annual Evidenced Based Symposium on Chiropractic Practice 2007

Although still considered investigational for the use in the treatment of scoliosis, research shows whole body vibration increases the effectiveness of exercise programs. For this reason, we may recommend specific exercises be performed in conjuntion with whole body vibration.

Whole Body Vibration (WBV) is a relatively new method of increasing muscle spindle activation during exercise. It has been shown to be helpful in bone remodeling as well as improving exercise efficiency.

Scoliosis Systems utilizes exercise programs as part of a complete management program lasting over an 18-24 month period. WBV can be utilized to retrain muscle recruitment patterns, influence bone remodeling, and improve the parietal brain somatotopic representation of body position in space.

Patient recommendations are made on an individual basis and may not include physiotherapy or muscle re-education procedures described on this website.