This protocol covers idiopathic scoliosis diagnosed in children between the ages of 3 and 9, presenting with a Cobb angle of 10 degrees or higher. Classifying scoliosis by the child’s age at diagnosis is clinically meaningful: the longer the interval between diagnosis and skeletal maturity, the greater the risk that the curve becomes more severe and complicated.
Early identification in this age group is therefore important, and structured management should begin promptly to limit progression during the remaining growth period.
The evidence-based first-line approach for this age group and curve magnitude centres on physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises — a specialised active conservative intervention. The full protocol specifies the structured components and clinical parameters of this therapy. The complete regimen is available via the link below.
DOI: 10.1186/s13013-017-0145-8
James proposed that scoliosis should be classified based on the age of the child at which the deformity was diagnosed.
This classification is important since the longer the period between diagnosis of scoliosis and completion of growth by the developing child, the greater the risk of developing a more severe and complicated deformity.
Physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises are recommended as the first step to treat idiopathic scoliosis to prevent/limit progression of the deformity and bracing.
It is recommended that physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises follow SOSORT Consensus and are based on auto-correction in 3D, training in ADL, stabilizing the corrected posture, and patient education.
The study found that scoliosis-specific active self-correction and task-oriented exercises, consistent with SEAS approach, improved Cobb angles by 5.3° at skeletal maturity and that traditional exercises were associated with stable curves.
Current evidence suggests that conservative treatment for scoliosis is effective at stopping curve from progression, as well as improving the curves at skeletal maturity.
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