Rehabilitation

Specific scoliosis physiotherapy and scoliosis rehabilitation exercise programs can play an important role in scoliosis treatment.Traditionally most surgeons have been of the opinion that “physiotherapy does not work for scoliosis”. While this maybe true for general physiotherapy or general exercise programs such as core stability programs being used to try and stop progression of idiopathic scoliosis. The development of scoliosis specific programs such as the Schroth approach among others, offers a new role for physiotherapy in scoliosis treatment.

For example in a small adolescent idiopathic curve i.e. less than 20 degrees where there is a familiy history of scoliosis, a specific scoliosis physiotherapy program may be the most suitable treatment. Another example can be when a curve is non progressive i.e. in late adolecents or middle age. With Physiotherapy alone it maybe be possible to help improve posture, manage pain and stabilise the spine.

In cases of a progressive idopathic scoliosis where the curve is greater than 20 degrees, physiotherapy is usually used in conjuntion with brace treatments.

When specialised scoliosis physiotherapy has been used in conjunction with bracing it has improved the results of hard bracing. In this case the physiotherapy helps to strengthen the muscles being weakened by the brace and keep the spine flexible. When physical therapy is not used with hard bracing any correction achieved during the time of bracing is usually lost within 24 months of finishing brace treatment.

It is important to understand that only specalised physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs specifically designed to treat scoliosis, such as the SpineCor exercise program or the Schroth program, have been shown to make improvements.