Scoliosis Treatment Research by SOSORT

An international study done at the Italian Scientific Spine Institute in Milan Italy in 2009 titled “Effectiveness of Complete Conservative Treatment for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (bracing and exercises) based on SOSORT Management Criteria: Results According to SRS Criteria for Bracing Studies” by scoliosis researchers Stefano Negrini, Salvato Atanasio, Claudia Fusco and Fabio Zaina was the SOSORT 2009 Award Winner for scoliosis research.

In 2009 SOSORT published a study by scoliosis researchers on the effectiveness of conservative therapy. The results showed a 96% Success Rate with Stopping Progression of scoliosis curvatures by combining scoliosis bracing with scoliosis exercises. They also came to realize the superiority of the SpineCor dynamic scoliosis brace and included it into their “Step by step approach” to treating scoliosis by the end of the study. (see graph below)

In this retrospective study they examined the benefits on stabilization or reduction of scoliosis curvatures with a comprehensive program conservative scoliosis treatment that included the use of scoliosis bracing and scoliosis exercises. This was the first study to examine treatment protocols based on the Society on Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT)1. criteria for appropriate scoliosis treatment and the results were expressed by methodology set forth by the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS).

Scoliosis Study Conclusion:

“According to our results, in patients that are at risk, it is possible to avoid surgery, provided that the patients follow their prescriptions (for exercise and dynamic bracing) and adhere to the regiment of treatment. By respecting the Society of Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT) criteria and focusing on compliance, a complete, conservative treatment based on the bracing and exercise will produce results, according to the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) criteria, which are much better than what has been reported previously. This paper demonstrates the importance of the human approach altogether with the technical aspects of treatment.”

This scoliosis treatment research study was the 2009 SOSORT Award Winner at their annual conference.

What the results of this study on comprehensive scoliosis treatment that includes simultaneously using both scoliosis bracing and scoliosis exercises was that when there was a high level of treatment compliance 96% of the scoliosis patient’s curvatures did not progress and many had a statistically significant reduction in their Cobb angles, ATR and aesthetics.

What is also interesting in this study is a graph of the research paper show that at the start of the study they used a step by step approach that included exercise and only static bracing but by the end of the study researchers were recommending the inclusion of the SpineCor dynamic brace before considering the use of a hard brace.

Click Here for a the Article Summary

Conclusion:

This is a very exciting scoliosis treatment research study that confirmed that when a patient is compliant with a SOSORT criteria treatment program (one that combines the use of scoliosis bracing and specific scoliosis exercises) research demonstrates that there is a very high likelihood of success in stopping the progression of their scoliosis.

It is also very important to seek providers that follow these guidelines and also work to insure your compliance with this very specific type of scoliosis treatment program in order to obtain these type of results.

This comprehensive corrective care approach of non-surgical scoliosis treatment was found to be highly effective for stopping the progression of curvatures in the study subjects and is the type of treatment protocol we use in our practice.

Footnotes:

1. The Society of Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Treatment known as SOSORT is an international organization that was formed in 2004, whose members are a group of 100 physicians, physical therapists and other providers who’s focus is on providing evidence based conservative treatment for scoliosis. They hold annual conventions to review the best evidence based conservative scoliosis treatment research to help improve doctor’s knowledge and ability to provide effective conservative scoliosis treatment.
2. The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) is an international organization of orthopedic and neurosurgeon’s that are dedicated to the education, research and treatment of spinal deformities, like scoliosis. The organization had set forth a specific framework for presenting research results so that studies could be better evaluated and compared.

One of our past patients, Bob Johnson is a Physical Therapist with scoliosis. He discusses how he noticed a difference with combining scoliosis exercises with the SpineCor brace.