Benefits of Intensive Rehabilitation Programs Using Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Purpose Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) affects 3% of adolescents. Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis Specific Exercises (PSSE) are recommended to limit AIS progression, especially within intensive multidisciplinary programs. Our study evaluated the efficiency of these programs in AIS cases with a high progression risk. Methods We conducted a controlled retrospective observational study using data collected from a multicenter cohort that was prospectively collected. One hundred and forty-three major AIS cases with a high progression risk, treated with a corrective brace, were included and divided into two matched groups. In the PSSE group, 72 adolescents followed an intensive 4-week PSSE rehabilitation program; in the control group, 71 adolescents did not follow this program. Patient files were assessed at V0 (inclusion), V1 (6 to 12 months after V0) and V2 (≥ 6 months after V1). The evaluation criteria were: change in Cobb angle and percentage of patients reaching surgical stage at V2. Results At V1, 54.2% of patients in the PSSE group showed improvement compared to 16.9% in the control group (p < 0.001). In contrast, 38.9% of patients in the PSSE group were stabilized, compared to 53.3% in the control group (p = 0.2). At V2, 34.7% of patients in the PSSE group improved compared to 15.5.% in the control group (p <0.006). At V2, 55.6% of patients in the PSSE group were stabilised versus 40.8% in the control group (p < 0.05). At V2, 8.3% of patients in the PSSE group reached the surgical stage versus 21.1% in the control group (p = 0.005). Conclusion Our study is an additional argument in favor of using PSSE rehabilitation in AIS.