Effects of the Instrument Pilates Exercise Based on the Schroth Exercise on the Cobb’s Angle, Angle of Trunk Rotation and Low Back Pain in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Single Subject Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#This study examined the effects of the application of Schroth exercise-based instrument Pilates exercise on the Cobb’s angle, angle of trunk rotation, and low back pain of female patients with idiopathic scoliosis. @*Methods@#Three patients with idiopathic scoliosis at a Cobb’s angle of 20° or more participated in this study. Among the single-subject experimental research designs, a reversal (ABA) design was performed. In particular, Schroth exercise-based instrument, Pilates exercise, was performed for 10 weeks, consisting of five weeks between the baseline and intervention one period and five weeks between the intervention 1 and intervention 2 periods, and then followed up for five weeks. @*Results@#After the Schroth exercise-based instrument, Pilates exercise, was applied, the Cobb’s angle and the angle of trunk rotation decreased compared to the baseline in all subjects, and the follow-up period also showed a continuous decline. After Pilates exercise was performed, low back pain in subjects 1 and 2 was decreased in the intervention 1 period compared to the baseline. The level of low back pain in the intervention 2 period increased compared to the intervention 1 period, but a reduction was noted in the follow-up period. The low back pain in the subject was decreased in all intervention periods and the follow-up period. @*Conclusion@#Schroth exercise-based Pilates exercise improves the Cobb’s angle and the angle of trunk rotation for female patients with idiopathic scoliosis in their teens and 20s, and an effective intervention method is proposed for low back pain.