EUR J PHYS REHABIL MED 2008;44:169-76

Rehabilitation of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: results of

exercises and bracing from a series of clinical studies

CA Europa Medicophysica-SIMFER 2007 Award Winner

DI S. NEGRINI, S. ATANASIO, F. ZAINA, M. ROMANO

E
M ®
Aim. Rehabilitation of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
(AIS) requires a careful choice from among the possible
treatments, such as bracing and exercises, according to
ISICO, Italian Sientific Spine Institute
Milan, Italy

A
the patient’s needs. According to the literature, there is

T
little evidence regarding the efficacy of these rehabili-
tation instruments. During the past few years, a full

V R
series of studies has been carried out to investigate their

H
efficacy. The aim of this paper was to summarize all
ehabilitation of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
(AIS) requires the careful choice of different pos-

R
these results. sible treatments, such as bracing and exercises, accord-

G
Methods. Three systematic reviews (two on exercises ing the patient’s need. Even if the Italian1 and inter-

E I
and one on manual therapy), and four cohort prospec- national2 guidelines recommend such treatments to
tive studies were performed. The prospective studies avoid surgery, many doubts have been raised regard-
included two trials with a prospective control group on ing the efficacy of both exercises 3-5 and bracing.5-7

N R
exercises (one to avoid bracing and one in preparation
During recent years, a new international scientific

I
to bracing) and two trials with retrospective control
group on a new brace developed by the Authors society, the International Society on Scoliosis

Y
(Sforzesco brace and SPoRT concept of correction ver-

M P
sus Lyon brace and Risser cast).
Results. Results show that in literature there is proof of
level 1b on exercises but no studies on manual therapy.
High quality exercises like Scientific Exercises Approach
Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT),2,
8-11 was established to verify the scientific basis and effi-
cacy of these rehabilitation practices; moreover, a
new journal — Scoliosis 12, 13 — was launched, and

O
now research is flourishing again after years of decline.
to Scoliosis (SEAS) have more efficacy than usual phys- (Negrini S. Approach to scoliosis changed due to caus-
iotherapy, significantly reducing brace prescription in
es other than evidence: Patients call for conservative

C
one year from 25% of cases to 6%. Moreover, such exer-
cises help to obtain the best results in bracing first cor- (rehabilitation) experts to join in team orthopaedic
rection. The Sforzesco brace has proved to have more surgeons. Disabil Rehabilitation 2008 [submitted]).
efficacy than the Lyon brace, whereas it has the same effi- Alongside the new international concerns, steps
cacy — but reduced side effects and impact on quality of are also being taken on the national level, for many
life — than the Risser brace. years, daily rehabilitation practice for AIS was based
Conclusion. With an efficient management of data col- on exercises and bracing.14-19 This study addresses
lection, it is possible to develop a set of studies aimed at the absence of proof regarding the efficacy of these
verifying the efficacy of clinical daily rehabilitation
approaches. therapies. During the last few years, the authors began
a series of studies — at first bibliographical and then
KEY WORDS: Rehabilitation - Scoliosis - Adolescent - Exercise.
on patients — to verify the usefulness of exercises
and bracing, in particular, their everyday use. Many of
Address reprint requests to: Negrini S., ISICO (Italian Scientific these studies focused on a specific set of exercises
Spine Institute), Via Bellarmino 13/1, 20141 Milan, Italy.
E-mail: stefano.negrini@isico.it developed by the authors, namely the Scientific

Vol. 44 - No. 2 EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL AND REHABILITATION MEDICINE 169

NEGRINI EUROPA MEDICOPHYSICA-SIMFER 2007 AWARD WINNER

30 80
70
25
Braced patients (%)

60

Patients (%)
20
50
15 40

A
30
10
20
5

C
10

I
0 0
1 2 Improved/stable Worsened
Time (years) Hump changes

SEAS

E D CONT

Figure 1.—Exercise SEAS treatment reduces the need for bracing.

Percentage of braced patients in SEAS and control (CONT) group after
1 and 2 years of treatment.20, 31 (Figure reprinted from ISICO).22
SEAS CONT

Figure 3.—Exercise SEAS treatment improves the Bunnel angle. After

therapy, the percentage of patients with improved Bunnel angle in
SEAS group is more than twice that of the control (CONT) group.21

M ®
(Figure reprinted from ISICO).22

80

A
70 group studies were performed. Of the group studies,
60

V T two exercise studies were performed (to avoid brac-

Patients (%)

50 ing 20 and in preparation for bracing21), each with a

40
30
20

R G H prospective control group, and two studies were per-

formed with retrospective control groups on a new
brace developed by the authors (Sforzesco brace and

E I
10 SPoRT concept of correction versus Lyon brace 23 and
0 Risser cast).24, 27
Improved Stable Worsened Moreover, the results of three other controlled stud-

IN YR
SEAS
Cobb angle changes

CONT
ies on technical factors are summarised,28-30 and the
population and methods of each study are in the
results section.
This development of the study series was character-

M P
Figure 2.—Exercise SEAS treatment improves Cobb angle. After ther-
apy, the percentage of patients with improved Cobb angle in SEAS ized by the common background of the Authors, who
group is more than twice that of the control (CONT) group.20 (Figure are all professional members of ISICO (Italian Scientific
reprinted from ISICO).22

O
Spine Institute).22 All physicians engaged in ISICO fol-
low exactly the same protocols and patient evaluations,
allowing uniform data collection wholly based on data

C
Exercises Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) 20-22 and
Symmetric Patient-oriented, Rigid, Three-dimension- processing. All patients (once they agree to personal data
al, active bracing (SPoRT).22, 23 The aim of this paper management for research purposes) can be prospec-
is to summarize all the results obtained. The results tively followed and included in specific studies. In this
section is devoted to the presentation of the methods, way, almost 1000 spinal disease-patients per year are
results and discussion of each single study, and the added to the database for further studies.
methods and discussion section provides a general
overview.
Results
Materials and methods
The results provided by the different studies have
Three systematic reviews of the literature, two on been arranged in order to answer several relevant
exercises 24 and one on manual therapy,25 and four clinical questions.

170 EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL AND REHABILITATION MEDICINE June 2008

EUROPA MEDICOPHYSICA-SIMFER 2007 AWARD WINNER NEGRINI

Usefulness of Exercises for AIS

The purpose of the Authors’ first study, published
in 2003 by Paediatric Rehabilitation 3 and selected by
the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (DARE),
was an extensive and systematic review of the litera-

A
ture aimed at verifying the effectiveness of physical
exercises in the treatment of AIS. A search of different

C
databases (Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, Cinhal)

I
was carried out together with a hand-search of the
non-indexed pertinent literature. Eleven papers were
found: none of the studies were randomized, six were

E D
prospective, seven were controlled, two compared
their results to historical controls, and one paper had
a prospective design and concurrent control group.
The methodological quality of the retrieved studies

M ®
was reviewed and found to be very poor. With one
exception, the published studies demonstrated the
efficacy of physical exercises in reducing both the
rate of progression and the magnitude of the Cobb

A T
angle at the end of treatment. However, being of poor
quality, the literature did not provide solid evidence

V
Figure 4.—From a neurophysiological perspective,32-34 active move-

H
for or against the efficacy of physical exercises in the ment is much better than passive for learning neuro-motor behaviours
like posture. Active self-correction (ASC) instead of passive autocor-
treatment of AIS. Nevertheless, it has been implied

R
rection goes towards this direction with a conceptual passage from
that exercises could be recommended on the basis “correction” (passive corrective exercises) to “neuromotor rehabili-

G
that benefits other than to avoid progression have

E I
been shown in the literature, and the results present-
ed in published studies reviewed here suggest an
tation” (active exercises to learn behaviours). First line: normal pos-
ture. Second line: ASC. Observe normalization of flanks, increase of
thoracic kyphosis and better lumbar lordosis from radiographic results
(C: Cobb; R: Raimondi rotation).28 (Figure reprinted from ISICO).22

N YR
effect on the primary goal of preventing progression.

I
As a result, there is some basis for discussion of this
option with patients and their families, which, in turn,
allows decisions to be made according to their pref-
in all treated patients after 6 months. The authors
found three papers on Scoliosis Intensive Rehabilita-

M P
erences.
Five years later, the Disability and Rehabilitation
Journal accepted and is publishing an update of this
tion (Schroth), five on passive autocorrection-based
methods (Schroth, side-shift), four on active autocor-

O
rection-based approaches (Lyon and SEAS), and five
systematic review 24 whose aim is to confirm whether with no autocorrection (three asymmetric, two sym-
the indication for treatment with specific exercises metric exercises). Apart from one study presenting

C
for AIS has changed in recent years. A bibliographic
search with strict inclusion criteria (patients treated
exclusively with exercises, outcome Cobb degrees,
all study designs) was performed on the main elec-
tronic databases and through extensive manual search-
no autocorrection or symmetric exercises and very
low methodological quality, all studies confirmed the
efficacy of exercises in reducing the progression rate
(mainly in early puberty) and/or improving the Cobb
angles (at the end of growth). Exercises also proved
ing. Nineteen studies were retrieved, including one to be effective in reducing brace prescription. The
randomized controlled trial (RCT), eight controlled authors concluded that in the past 5 years, there have
studies, and 12 studies prospective studies. A method- been eight papers published in the indexed literature
ological and clinical evaluation was performed on coming from all over the world (Asia, the US, Eastern
these studies. The 19 papers analyzed included 1654 Europe), proving that the interest in exercises is not
treated patients and 688 controls. The most signifi- limited to Western Europe. This systematic review
cant study (the RCT) compared two groups of 40 confirms and strengthens the previous ones. The actu-
patients and showed an improvement of curvature al evidence on exercises for AIS is in level 1b.

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NEGRINI EUROPA MEDICOPHYSICA-SIMFER 2007 AWARD WINNER

There is no proof of the efficacy of manual therapy (UPG). The primary outcomes included the number of
for scoliosis braced patients, Cobb angle, and the angle of trunk
rotation (ATR). The braced patients were 6.1% in SG ver-
The treatment of AIS depends on many variables. A
sus 25.0% in UPG, while failures of treatment in the
simple observation is sufficient for less serious curva-
worst-case analysis were 11.5% and 30.8%, respective-
tures, but for more serious cases, surgical intervention
ly. In both cases, the differences were statistically sig-

CA
could be recommended. Between these two approach-
es, there is a wide range of different treatments. Manual
therapy is commonly used; the aim of this paper was to
nificant. The Cobb angle improved in the SG, but wors-
ened in the UPG; in fact, in the SG 23.5% of patients
improved and 11.8% worsened, while in the UPG the

I
verify the data existing in the literature on the efficacy
figures were 11.1%, and 13.9%, respectively. These data
of this approach. A systematic review of the scientific lit-
confirm the effectiveness of exercises in scoliosis patients

D
erature published internationally has been performed.
who are at high risk for progression. When compared
With the term “manual therapy,” the authors refer to
to non-adapted exercises, a specific and personalized

E
all manipulative and generally passive techniques per-
treatment (SEAS) appears to be more effective. This
formed by an external operator. In particular, osteo-
study was repeated at the 2 year follow-up with similar
pathic, chiropractic and massage techniques have been
results.(Figure 1).20, 24, 31

M ®
considered as manipulative therapeutic methods.
The systematic research was performed in Medline,
Embase, Cinhal, Cochrane Library, and Pedro with Exercise SEAS treatment improvement of scoliosis para-

A
meters

T
the following terms: “idiopathic scoliosis” combined
with “chiropractic;” “manipulation;” “mobilization;” In the previously mentioned study, exercise results

V
“manual therapy;” “massage, osteopathy;” and “ther-

H
apeutic manipulation.” The inclusion criteria were the

R
following: any type of research; diagnosis of AIS;
were also documented with traditional measures. In
terms of Cobb degrees, the percentage of patients show-
ing a radiographic improvement was 24% in the SEAS

E IG
patients treated exclusively by one of the procedures
established as a standard for this review (chiropractic
manipulation, osteopathic techniques, massage); and
group vs. 11% in the control group, whereas the num-
ber of worsened cases was superimposable even if
slightly lower in the SEAS group (12% vs. 14%) (Figure

N R
outcome in Cobb degrees. One hundred forty five 2). A clinical evaluation of the largest curve hump, car-

I
texts were retrieved, but only three papers were rel- ried out using Bunnell’s scoliometer, in the SEAS group

Y
evant to the present study. However, none of them sat- showed a stability/improvement in 73% of cases vs.
isfied all the requirements because these studies were 58% in the control groups (Figure 3).20, 24

M P
characterized by a combination of manual techniques
and other therapeutic approaches. The lack of sig-
nificant scientific data should not lead to any conclu-
Exercise SEAS treatment normalizes balance and

O
coordination in scoliosis patients
sions about the efficacy of manual therapy as a reli-
able technique for the treatment of AIS.24 According to the SEAS protocol, the exercises aim

C
to improve some specific impairments of the scoliot-
ic patient, normalizing them and reducing the risk of
Exercise SEAS treatment to reduce the need for brac-
progression of scoliosis, leading to better equilibri-
ing
um and coordination.28 In a controlled cross-section-
The aim of this section is to compare the effect of the al cohort study, 190 subjects divided into two groups
SEAS exercises versus usual rehabilitation programs in (40 AIS patients and 150 controls) were evaluated;
terms of avoidance of brace prescription and prevention the 40 AIS patients were further divided into two sub-
of curve progression. A prospective controlled cohort groups (20 treated for one year with SEAS and 20 not
observational study was carried out, including 74 con- treated). All participants were evaluated with
secutive outpatients with AIS (15±6° Cobb, 12.4±2.2 Unterberger (Fukuda), Romberg (sensitised and not
years) not previously treated and at risk for bracing. sensitised) and lower-limb oscillation tests. Patients
Thirty-five patients entered the SEAS Exercises Group treated with the SEAS protocol showed superimpos-
(SG), and 39 entered the Usual Physiotherapy Group able results to those of control subjects; on a statisti-

172 EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL AND REHABILITATION MEDICINE June 2008

EUROPA MEDICOPHYSICA-SIMFER 2007 AWARD WINNER NEGRINI

50 70
60

Force increment (%)

40
50
Cobb degrees

30 40
30

A
20
20
10
10
0
Before

IC
Stage of treatment
After
0
Kyphotisation Rotation
Exercise
Escape

SEAS

E D CONT

Figure 5.—Effect of SEAS pre-brace treatment. Patients who per-

formed SEAS had a better result after bracing than controls.21 (Figure
reprinted from ISICO).22
Figure 6.—The forces of brace pushes can be incremented by specific
exercises. Kyphotisation can increment forces up to 60%.30 (Figure
reprinted from ISICO).22

M ®
ration for brace treatment as well. To confirm whether
the SEAS protocol, mobilizing and preparation for the
cal basis in both groups, results were definitely more brace can achieve this, the results obtained at the first

A
positive than in untreated scoliosis patients. radiographic follow-up at 4 months in 110 patients

V T
Use of SEAS active self-correction exercises to reduce the
radiographic curve

H
divided into two groups were compared with a con-
trolled prospective cohort study at the beginning of
brace therapy. Data showed a higher efficacy of SEAS

R
treatment compared to standard exercises (control
Autocorrection has been considered by SOSORT
group) in regard to cosmetic appearance (Aesthetic

E IG
experts as a key aim of exercises for idiopathic scolio-
sis; the active self-correction (ASC) is a type of auto-
correction actively performed by the patient without any
Index) and Cobb degrees of the largest curve and
hump (Figure 5).21

N R
external aid, which is the root of SEAS (Figure 4). ASC
is a selective (i.e. involving only the vertebrae) lateral SEAS kyphotisation exercise as the most useful to help

I
de-flexion, sagittal correction (usually increase of kypho-

Y
sis and preservation of lordosis) and horizontal de-
bracing push work
A study in 17 consecutive adolescents was carried out

M P
rotation; however, this movement is very difficult and
requires several months to learn. Twenty-seven con- to quantify and compare different exercises (kyphoti-
secutive patients requiring x-ray examination for their sation, rotation and “escape from the pad” in different
positions – sitting, supine and on all fours) performed

O
clinical follow-up have been included in the study. All
patients underwent both standard and in ASC X-ray in braced condition to increase their corrective forces.
The authors verified that in static and dynamic condi-

C
examinations; they were all photographed frontally
and laterally to have an evaluation of the seriousness tions, the position adopted does not alter the total pres-
of ASC. The statistically significant percentage of reduc- sure exerted by the brace. Kyphotisation and rotation
tion of scoliosis was 11.0±12.3% with a reduction of exercises guarantee a significant increase of pressure
rotation of 13.2±63.4%. This study proves that it is pos- (+58.9% and 29.8%, respectively), whereas the “escape
sible to actively reduce the curvature with a selective from the pad” exercise, despite its name, does not pro-
action and without any external aid and that expert duce any significant variation of pressure. The authors
physiotherapists can teach ASC.29 concluded that exercises in braced condition allow the
application of adjunctive forces on soft tissues and,
presumably through them, on the spine. Different exer-
Exercise SEAS treatment improvement of results in cises can be chosen to obtain different actions; physi-
case of bracing cal exercises and sporting activities are useful in
Although their main aim is to facilitate orthosis mechanical terms, although other important actions
function, exercises play an important role in the prepa- are not to be neglected (Figure 6).30

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90 0
80
-2
70
Patients (%)

60 -4

Changes
50
-6
40

A
30 -8
20
10

C
10

I
0 -12
Improvement Stable Worsening Cobb (degrees) C7 plumbline
Cobb angle changes after therapy Parameters

E D
Sforzesco Lyon

Figure 7.—The Sforzesco brace (SPoRT concept) is more effective than

the Lyon brace (3 point correction) after 6 months of treatment. The
number of improved patient in terms of Cobb angle is significantly
Sforzesco Risser

Figure 8.—Sforzesco brace (SPoRT concept) is equally effective as

Risser plaster brace. The mean reduction of Cobb angle is higher in
the Sforzesco group than in the Risser plaster brace group, even if not

M ®
higher in the Sforzesco group than in the Lyon group.23, 26 (Figure statistically significant, while the opposite happens for sagittal plane
reprinted from ISICO).22 curves.26 (Figure reprinted from ISICO).22

A T
Increased effectiveness of the Sforzesco brace (SPoRT
concept) over the Lyon brace (three point correc-

V
tion) after 6 months of treatment
Sforzesco brace. This was a study on the best available
practice, as, until 2002, plaster had been the standard
treatment for the largest curves and since mid-2004, the

R G H
A prospective cohort study (Sforzesco brace, SPoRT
correction concept) was carried out with a matched
Sforzesco brace was systematically used. The follow-
up was scheduled at 18 months, i.e. after the end of the
corrective phase of the treatment (12 months). The

E
retrospective control group (Lyon brace, three-point

I
correction concept) on 30 patients aged 30 years and
with curves of 38° Cobb angle. It was a study on the

N R
best available practice, as the proposed brace was con-
first follow-up examination was done with complete
clinical and radiographic data. The Sforzesco was
shown to be more effective in reducing the thoracic

I
curve, and its results were superimposable for the oth-
sidered the best at the moment of treatment execu-

Y
er regions. The Risser plaster brace was shown to be
tion. The Sforzesco brace obtained higher mean radi-
more effective on the thoracic hump and in regard to
ographic improvements (-10° Cobb vs. -5°), as well as

M P
a better cosmetic appearance of the flanks and shoul-
ders without the negative impact on kyphosis deter-
the cosmetic appearance of the flanks, but it also
caused a serious kyphosis reduction. Considering the
reduction in personal (in terms of quality of life) and

O
mined by the Lyon brace. In terms of Cobb degrees,
80% of Sforzesco group patients improved and none social costs (outpatient treatment for brace, while plas-
worsened, while the Lyon group results showed 53% ters always require some kind of hospitalization and at

C
improved and 13% worsened. No differences were
observed with regard to humps (Figure 7).23, 26

Sforzesco brace (SPoRT concept) as equally effective as

Risser plaster brace
least in day-hospital), the plastic brace can replace
the Risser plaster brace (Figure 8).27

Discussion and conclusions

Currently, the Risser plaster brace is also proposed Every single study in this field has been discussed
by the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) as a very effec- in the results section of this paper. It was possible to
tive tool for the conservative treatment of AIS. The demonstrate that in the literature there is proof of lev-
authors conducted a prospective cohort study with a el 1b 35 (many controlled studies, not randomized, with
retrospective control group on 41 patients aged 4 years coherent results) on the efficacy of exercises, but there
and with curves of 40° Cobb. Eighteen patients were is no proof at all on the usefulness of manual therapy.
treated with the Risser plaster brace and 33 with the These data should be included in future reviews on

174 EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL AND REHABILITATION MEDICINE June 2008

EUROPA MEDICOPHYSICA-SIMFER 2007 AWARD WINNER NEGRINI

scoliosis treatment. Good quality exercises (SEAS) have TABLE I.—Presentation of ISICO principles concretized in the
more efficacy than usual physiotherapy, significantly everyday clinical practice.
reducing brace prescription in one year from 25% of cas- 1. Efficacy: scientifically proven validity of used techniques, excluding
es to 6%; moreover, they help in obtaining the best alternative/traditional methods without any evidence.
results in bracing correction. The newly developed 2. Efficiency: with the same efficacy, efficient protocols, i.e., the lea-
Sforzesco brace, and consequently the SPoRT concept st demanding ones in terms of time and costs.

A
3. Research: implemented on a daily basis during the clinical acti-
of correction of scoliosis, has more efficacy than the vity, as a guarantee of continuous improvement.
Lyon brace and the same efficacy (but reduced side 4. Innovation: new effective and efficacious techniques should be

IC
effects and impact on quality of life) as the Risser plas-
ter brace. This brace should be preferred in high degree
progressive scoliosis to avoid surgery.
acquired and transferred to clinical practice as soon as possible.
5. Acceptability: techniques that can be adapted to needs and prefe-
rences of the patient, who is not the object, but the subject of treat-
ments.

D
Undoubtedly, this study series had advantages con- 6. Humanisation: the single person is at the core of treatment, thanks
ferred by the organization of ISICO.22 All physicians of to dialogue and psychological attention.

E
the Institute follow exactly the same approach protocols 7. Teamwork: all operators take part in the patient’s treatment in a clo-
and patient evaluations, which implies a loss of some se collaboration.
8. Transparency: complete and accurate documentation of what we
individual clinical freedom. However, in this way, it is do that is made available to the patient and the family practitioner.

M ®
possible to gain a uniform data collection for research 9. Organization: the application of the correct organisational princi-
and, even more important, any innovation introduced ples allows us to favour processes of continuous improvement
by a single physician becomes immediately (after appro- 10. Services appropriateness and reliability: a natural consequence of

A
priate discussion) shareable. This is the authors’ the application of principles described here.

T
approach to evidence-based medicine and clinical prac-

V
tice, as summarized in the ISICO principles (Table I): the

H
mission of the Institute is to present research to the results of their physical rehabilitation medicine

R
clinical — but not only clinical — world.22 Data pro- approach are reported here.

G
cessing can be very helpful, as it allows complete In conclusion, with an efficient management of

E
retrieval of data for research and clinical purposes; on data collection, it is possible to gradually develop a set

N R I
the other hand, it compels a shared data collection. The
results of these studies are only at the beginning, as
each year almost 1000 spinal disease patients are added
of studies aimed at verifying the efficacy of clinical dai-
ly rehabilitation approaches.

I
to the database. This allows the development of future

Y
large clinical studies and the verification of any single
innovation introduced.
References
1. Negrini S, Aulisa L, Ferraro C, Fraschini P, Masiero S, Simonazzi P

M P
There is one further aspect that is worth discussion.
During the last few years, the interest of the AIS treat-
et al. Italian guidelines on rehabilitation treatment of adolescents
with scoliosis or other spinal deformities. Eura Medicophys 2005,
41:183-201.

O
ment community (almost exclusively made up of ortho- 2. Weiss HR, Negrini S, Rigo M, Kotwicki T, Hawes MC, Grivas TB
et al. Indications for conservative management of scoliosis (guide-
pedic surgeons) seems to have shifted towards surgery lines). Scoliosis 2006, 1:5.
(fusion in the case of AIS), where research has increased. 3. Negrini S, Antonini G, Carabalona R, Minozzi S. Physical exercis-

C
Meanwhile, conservative treatment is suffering a
decrease in professional interest and, consequently,
research.
Accordingly, this is a need that must be addressed:
AIS requires expert, committed evidence-based care,
es as a treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. A systematic
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4. Negrini S, Rigo M. Re: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: modern
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es, that have an efficacy in AIS treatment; moreover, MC et al. SOSORT consensus paper: school screening for scolio-
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176 EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL AND REHABILITATION MEDICINE June 2008