There is low evidence on the possible efficacy of exercises to treat idiopathic scoliosis, graded as C by the existing Italian Guidelines. Our aim was to verify if exercises quality has an effect on results.
Design: Prospective controlled study on idiopathic scoliosis patients that performed only exercises to avoid progression.
Treatment: SEAS Group make exercises according to the protocol SEAS.02 (Scientific Exercises Approach to Scoliosis, version 2002). The CONT Group performed exercises at a local structure according to different protocols preferred by the treating therapists. Population. SEAS: 48 patients (37 females), 12.5+/-2.2 years, 15.1 degrees +/-5.7 degrees Cobb (degrees C), 9.0 degrees +/-3.3 degrees Bunnell (degrees B). The difference in the number of braced patients within the first year has been almost statistically significant (P=0.07): 1 in SEAS vs. 5 in CONT. Cobb degrees improved with treatment (P<0.05) only in the SEAS group. Clinical results (variation of at least 5 degrees C or 2 degrees B) were better in SEAS than CONT. Not all exercises for scoliosis have the same efficacy: this study proves the short term efficacy of SEAS.02 when compared to usual care.