The Superiority of Schroth Exercise Combined Brace Treatment for Mild-to-Moderate Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The current study aimed to assess and rank the comparative efficacy of different nonoperative treatments on Cobb angle, angle of trunk rotation, and quality of life for mild-to-moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of databases, including Medline, The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science spanning all previous years up to January 1, 2024. The included studies were evaluated for literature quality according to Cochrane Handbook criteria, and a network meta-analysis was performed using STATA 14.0 statistical software.

RESULTS

Twenty randomized controlled trials met all inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Schroth exercise and scoliosis-specific exercise combined with brace treatments had a significant positive effect on Cobb angle and quality of life. For angle of trunk rotation, Schroth exercise and Schroth exercise combined with brace treatments prove more effective compared to the control group. On surface-under-the-cumulative-ranking-curve analysis, Schroth exercise combined with brace treatment had the highest likelihood for reducing Cobb angle (P-score = 0.899), angle of trunk rotation (0.82), and improving quality of life (0.828).

CONCLUSIONS

Although most conservative treatments had benefits for mild-to-moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, the most optimal programs were those that included (1) at least 10 weeks of approximately 60-minute Schroth exercise sessions twice a week and (2) wearing the brace for 23 hours every day throughout the treatment period.

Application of the Schroth Method in the Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

(1) Background: Idiopathic scoliosis can be defined as a complex three-dimensional deformity of the spine and trunk, which occurs in basically healthy children. Schroth scoliosis-specific exercises have shown good results in reducing idiopathic scoliosis progression. This study aimed to critically evaluate the effect size of Schroth's method through a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2) Methods: Four databases were included in the search: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The following keywords were used: "Schroth exercise", "idiopathic scoliosis", "Cobb angle", "angle of trunk rotation", and "quality of life". Only articles written in English that met the following criteria were included in our study: subjects who had idiopathic scoliosis, the Schroth method was applied, and Cobb angle or angle of trunk rotation or quality of life as outcomes. (3) Results: Ten randomized controlled trials were included in this study. The effect size of the Schroth exercise ranged from almost moderate to large, for the outcomes used: Cobb angle (ES = -0.492, p ˂ 0.005); ATR (ES = -0.471, p = 0.013); QoL (ES = 1.087, p ˂ 0.001). (4) Conclusions: The current meta-analysis indicates that the Schroth method has a positive effect on subjects with idiopathic scoliosis.

Effects of Schroth method and core stabilization exercises on idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Conservative approaches such as Schroth exercises and core stabilization exercises showed effective results in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. This study aimed to critically evaluate the magnitude effect of Schroth and core stabilization exercises using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

This study has been developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement. The following three databases were searched for articles collection: Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The key search terms were: Schroth exercise, core exercise, idiopathic scoliosis, Cobb angle, angle of trunk rotation, and quality of life. The articles included in our study was limited to original articles written only in English that met the following inclusion criteria: (1) Participants with idiopathic scoliosis; (2) Schroth exercises and core stabilization exercises used as interventions; (3) Cobb angle or angle of trunk rotation or quality of life used as outcome measures.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies were included. Depending on the outcome measured, the magnitude effect of Schroth and core stabilization exercises ranged from small to almost large as follows: Cobb angle (SMD = - 0.376, p ˂ 0.001); angle of trunk rotation (SMD = - 0.268, p = 0.104); quality of life (SMD = 0.774, p = 0.002). By subgroup analysis, Schroth method showed a larger effect size than core stabilization exercises.

CONCLUSION

The current systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that both Schroth method and core stabilization exercises have a positive effect in subjects with idiopathic scoliosis. Subgroup analysis showed that the Schroth method had a larger effect size than the core stabilization exercises.

How do Paraspinal Muscles Contract during the Schroth Exercise Treatment in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)?

The Schroth exercise can train the paraspinal muscles of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), however, muscle performance during the training remains unknown. This study applied surface electromyography (sEMG) to investigate the paraspinal muscle activities before, during and after Schroth exercise in nine AIS patients. This study found that after the Schroth exercise, the paraspinal muscle symmetry index (PMSI) was significantly reduced (PMSI = 1.3), while symmetry exercise significantly lowered the PMSI (PMSI = 0.93 and 0.75), and asymmetric exercise significantly increased the PMSI (PMSI = 2.56 and 1.52) compared to relax standing (PMSI = 1.36) in participants (p < 0.05). Among the four exercises, the PMSI of on all fours (exercise 1) and kneeling on one side (exercise 3) was the most and the least close to 1, respectively. The highest root mean square (RMS) of sEMG at the concave and convex side was observed in squatting on the bar (exercise 2) and sitting with side bending (exercise 4), respectively. This study observed that the asymmetric and symmetric exercise induced more sEMG activity on the convex and concave side, respectively, and weight bearing exercise activated more paraspinal muscle contractions on both sides of the scoliotic curve in the included AIS patients. A larger patient sample size needs to be investigated in the future to validate the current observations.

Effects of the Schroth exercise on the Cobb's angle and vital capacity of patients with idiopathic scoliosis that is an operative indication

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the Schroth exercise on the Cobb's angle and vital capacity of patients with growing idiopathic scoliosis, an operative indication. [Subjects] Five idiopathic scoliosis patients with a Cobb's angle of the thoracic vertebra of 40 degrees or higher and Risser sign stage 3 or higher. [Methods] The Schroth exercise was applied 3 times a week for 12 weeks. We measured the thoracic trunk inclination, Cobb's angle, and vital capacity before and after the exercise program. [Results] The thoracic trunk rotation angle decreased from 11.86 ± 3.32° to 4.90 ± 1.91° on average, the thoracic Cobb's angle decreased from 42.40 ± 7.86° to 26.0 ± 3.65° on average, and the vital capacity also increased from 2.83 ± 1.23° to 4.04° ± 1.67° on average. All these effects were significant. [Conclusion] The 12-week Schroth exercise caused significant effects in the thoracic trunk inclination, Cobb's angle, and vital capacity. The conservative treatment method was found to be effective even at a 40 degree or higher Cobb's angle. In the future, universal exercise approach methods and preventive training for the treatment of scoliosis should be developed further.

Effects of Schroth and Pilates exercises on the Cobb angle and weight distribution of patients with scoliosis

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of Schroth and Pilates exercises on the Cobb angle and body weight distribution of patients with idiopathic scoliosis. [Subjects] Twenty-four scoliosis patients with a Cobb angle of ≥20° were divided into the Schroth exercise group (SEG, n = 12) and the Pilates exercise group (PEG, n = 12). [Methods] The SEG and PEG performed Schroth and Pilates exercises, respectively, three times a week for 12 weeks. The Cobb angle was measured in the standing position with a radiography apparatus, and weight load was measured with Gait View Pro 1.0. [Results] In the intragroup comparison, both groups showed significant changes in the Cobb angle. For weight distribution, the SEG showed significant differences in the total weight between the concave and convex sides, but the PEG did not show significant differences. Furthermore, in the intragroup comparison, the SEG showed significant differences in the changes in the Cobb angle and weight distribution compared with the PEG. [Conclusion] Both Schroth and Pilates exercises were effective in changing the Cobb angle and weight distribution of scoliosis patients; however, the intergroup comparison showed that the Schroth exercise was more effective than the Pilates exercise.