Title:Rehabilitation of Adolescents with Scoliosis During Growth – Preliminary Results Using a Novel Standardized Approach in Russia. (Methodology)
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Author(s): Maksym Borysov and Tatiana Mogiliantseva
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Brace treatment, CAD / CAM, conservative management, scoliosis, physical therapy
Abstract: Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a Schroth Best Practice®
program in an out-patient regimen on the signs of scoliosis in patients with adolescent idiopathic
scoliosis (hereafter referred to as AIS). The second aim is to evaluate in-brace correction with the
Gensingen Brace® in the first sample of patients with AIS. Both authors have undergone training in
this special approach to scoliosis rehabilitation. The first author has undergone PT (physical therapy)
and CAD-CAM (computer-aided design and manufacturing)bracing training, the second author PT
training.
Materials and Methods: 23 patients with AIS, 19 girls and 4 boys, with an average age of 13.6 years,
average Risser sign of 2.52 and an average Cobb angle of 36.9 degrees (20-88 degrees), underwent an out-patient Schroth
Best Practice® program with an intensity of two days a week of 2 x 60 min sessions/day. The angle of trunk rotation
(ATR) was measured before and after the course.
Eleven of the patients were fit with Gensingen Braces®. Braces were produced via CAD-CAM. In-brace correction was
measured and compared with initial data.
Results: After an out-patient Schroth Best Practice® program ATR was reduced significantly from 9.58 degrees to 7.47
degrees in thoracic and from 8.9 to 6.6 degrees in lumbar. An average in-brace correction of 59% was achieved in CADCAM
braces.
Discussion: The results achieved with out-patient rehabilitation in the investigations published previously are repeatable.
The deformity of the trunk can be reduced significantly after out-patient rehabilitation according to Schroth Best Practice®
standards. In-brace correction comparable with published results on CAD-CAM bracing can be achieved in braces according
to Gensingen® standards after appropriate training.
Conclusion: Out-patient rehabilitation following the Schroth Best Practice® standards seems to provide an improvement
of signs of scoliosis patients in this study using a pre-/post prospective design. The results of the recent studies on Schroth
Best Practice® program seem to be repeatable.
Following appropriate training, the in-brace corrections achieved with the CAD / CAM technology can be compared to
the in-brace corrections as published in recent literature. CAD / CAM allows for repeatable results globally.
