This patient, female, age 14 presented to ScoliCare after being diagnosed with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis by an orthopaedic surgeon and had been undergoing physiotherapy to manage pain in her lower back and shoulder blade area. At the time of her orthopaedic consult, she was told that only surgery would help her curve.
Her PA X-ray and clinical assessment confirmed the diagnosis and a left thoracolumbar curve of 34 degrees. Her postural examination revealed significant postural changes, including left coronal imbalance, asymmetrical shoulder levels and waist angles. According to international guidelines the treatment recommendations included bracing combined with physiotherapeutic scoliosis specific exercises (PSSE)1. The patient was therefore prescribed ScoliBrace and the ScoliBalance rehabilitation approach.
This patient wore her ScoliBrace for two years, until her growth had stopped. In addition to her ScoliBrace wear, she completed an individualised daily ScoliBalance program to help improve teach her:
- Active self correction of her posture in a 3D manner
- Strengthening of the corrected posture
- Integration of this improved posture into her activities of daily living
- Education for better self management
The patient was compliant with her bracing and ScoliBalance protocol.
Outcomes
Follow-up X-rays five months after her initial brace fitting showed that the initial thoracolumbar curve reduced from 34° down to 14° (59% reduction) out of the brace. Coronal balance had also improved. Two years after the patient’s initial brace fitting, the curve out of brace had remained steady at 16° in the thoracolumbar spine with no evident curve in the thoracic spine. In addition to this, the patient’s posture has significantly improved.
Reference:
Negrini, S., Donzelli, S., Aulisa, A.G. et al. 2016 SOSORT guidelines: orthopaedic and rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth. Scoliosis 13, 3 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13013-017-0145-8
