The Effect of Comprehensive Spinal Correction Rehabilitation in Children With Early-Onset Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Clinical Controlled Trial

Study DesignSingle-blind, prospective controlled trial.ObjectiveWhile physiotherapy scoliosis-specific exercise improves spinal deformities in mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, evidence for early-onset idiopathic scoliosis (EOIS) is limited. This study proposed comprehensive spinal correction rehabilitation (CSCR) and evaluated its efficacy in EOIS.Methods44 EOIS patients aged 7-10 years were divided into 2 groups matching for age and gender. The interventional group (n = 22) underwent CSCR, and the control group (n = 22) was followed up for observation. Bracing was added if the patients' Cobb angle reached 25° and above. All enrolled patients were evaluated at the initial visit and after the 6-month intervention, including baseline condition, the major curve Cobb angle, lung function, balance function, and quality of life, respectively.ResultsAfter the intervention, the amount of change in the main curve Cobb angle, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁) (△Cobb angle, △FVC, △FEV₁) in the intervention group increased significantly compared with the control group (<i>P</i> = .001, <i>P</i> = .001, <i>P</i> = .002); in the intervention group, the main curve Cobb angle decreased, and FVC and FEV₁ increased significantly after the intervention (<i>P</i> = .001 <i>P</i> = .007, <i>P</i> = .003), but there was no significant difference compared with the control group; and the difference in balance function and quality of life between the 2 groups after the intervention was also not significant (all <i>P</i> > .01).ConclusionCSCR could effectively improve the spinal deformity of patients with EOIS and simultaneously increase their lung function.