Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Seoul Hyu Clinic, Gyeonggi-do, Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, Kangwon-do, Korea
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Dr. Joshua H. You, Department of Physical Therapy, Yonsei University, 1 Yonsei-Dae Kil, Wonju City, Kangwon-do 220-710, Korea. Tel.: +82 33 760 2476; Fax: +82 33 760 2496; E-mail: neurorehab@yonsei.ac.kr
Abstract: Objective:To compare the therapeutic effects of a 3-dimensional corrective spinal technique (CST) and a conventional exercise program (CE) on altered spinal curvature and health related quality-of-life in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods:Adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (N=32, 6 males and 26 females) between 10 and 19 years of age (14.34 ± 2.60 years) were recruited and underwent the CST or CE for 60 minutes/day, 2–3 times a week, and an average of total 30 sessions. Diagnostic X-ray imaging technique was used to determine intervention-related changes in the Cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis angle, lumbar lordosis angle, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, and vertebral rotation (Nash-Moe method). The Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) health related quality-of-life questionnaire was used. Data were analysed using independent t-test, paired t-test, and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test at p < 0.05. Results:CST showed greater improvements in Cobb angle (p=0.003), vertebral rotation (p=0.000), and SRS-22 scores (self-image and treatment satisfaction subscale scores and total score, p=0.026, p=0.039, and p=0.041, respectively) as compared to the controls. There were no significant changes in the other measures between the two groups. Conclusions:This is the first clinical trial to investigate the effects of the 3-dimensional CST on spinal curvatures and health related quality-of-life in AIS, providing the important clinical rationale and compelling evidence for the effective management of AIS.
