Abstract
Previous studies (Stone et al., 1979) of the effect of exercise therapy on scoliosis have demonstrated progression of spinal curves despite vigorous exercise regimens. This study presents evidence to the contrary.Ten South African black school children with mild scoliosis and attendant upper thoracic asymmetries were analysed both before and after a specific exercise therapy programme, in order to determine the effect of the therapy on spinal functionality and the scoliotic curve. The effect of this intensive treatment, in which the subjects underwent a five-month exercise training programme with a total of 60 one-hour sessions, was investigated in a controlled clinical trial.A subjective and objective appraisal of posterior trunk asymmetry in schoolchildren aged 7 -1 8 years is reported. Selected functional and anthropometric measurements were made before and after the treatment, and anteroposterior X-rays were used to indicate changes in the scoliotic curve. New methods are described for quantifying the scoliotic curves in each child.Post-treatment tests showed a significant (p) decrease in Cobb’s angles as well as a significant reduction in all the spinal and thoracic functional asymmetries observed in the study.The findings suggest that selective exercise programmes can contribute to improvement in cases of functional scoliosis. The study sheds new light on problems related to scoliosis and the benefits of exercise rehabilitation.Data on the incidence of scoliosis amongst 1052 black children are presented and discussed too.
Highlights
Previous studies have tended to dem onstrate that in cases of functional scoliosis, postural muscle "tightness" should be as sessed during musculo-skeletal examinations, and that the treat ment rationale should include appropriate mobilisation therapy along with improving imbalances between antagonistic muscle groups along the spine (Janda, 1983; Alter, 1988; Nudelman and Reis, 1990)
Ten South African black school children with mild scoliosis and attendant upper thoracic asymmetries were analysed both before and after a specific exercise therapy programme, in order to determine the effect of the therapy on spinal functionality and the scoliotic curve
The findings suggest that selective exercise programmes can contribute to improvement in cases of functional scoliosis
Summary
Previous studies have tended to dem onstrate that in cases of functional scoliosis, postural muscle "tightness" should be as sessed during musculo-skeletal examinations, and that the treat ment rationale should include appropriate mobilisation therapy along with improving imbalances between antagonistic muscle groups along the spine (Janda, 1983; Alter, 1988; Nudelman and Reis, 1990). No published data were found on the effect of these treatments on lateral deviations of the spine. This study w as designed to determ ine whether or not it is possible to show reduction of the lateral deviation in a group of functional scoliotic children following a 20 week period of thera peutic exercises, and to exam ine the extent to w hich spinal func tion can be improved
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