Sports participation reduces the progression of idiopathic scoliosis and the need for bracing. An observational study of 511 adolescents with Risser 0-2 maturation stage.

BACKGROUND: In clinics and the literature, there are doubts about the indications and contraindications of sports to support rehabilitation treatment for adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). AIM: The aim of the study is to assess sports activities' effect and frequency in a large population of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). DESIGN: Retrospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary referral institute specialized in the conservative treatment of scoliosis. POPULATION: consecutive patients in a clinical database of age ≥10, with juvenile or adolescent IS diagnosis, 11-25° Cobb curve, Risser Bone Maturity Score 0-2, no brace prescription, radiographic follow-up radiographs at 12±3 months. METHODS: At 12-month follow-up, radiograph, we considered progression an increase of scoliosis curve ≥5° Cobb and failure an increase to ≥25° Cobb - need of a brace. We calculated the Relative risk (RR) to compare the outcome of participants performing sports (SPORTS) or not (NO-SPORTS). We run a logistic regression with covariate adjustment to assess the effect of sports participation frequency on the outcome. RESULTS: We included 511 patients (mean age 11.9±1.2, 415 females). Participants in the NO-SPORTS group showed a higher risk of progression (RR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.16-2.12, P=0.004) and failure (RR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.19-2.86, P=0.007) than participants in SPORTS. Logistic regression confirmed that the more frequent the sports activities, the less probable progression (P=0.0004) and failure (P=0.004) were. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that sports activities have a protective role against progression at 12-month follow-up in adolescents with milder forms of IS. Excluding high-level sports activities, the risks of progression and failure decrease with the increase in sports frequency per week. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Albeit non-specific, sports can help in the rehabilitation of patients with idiopathic scoliosis and reduce brace prescription.

Sport improved medium-term results in a prospective cohort of 785 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis braced full time. SOSORT 2018 award winner.

PURPOSE: The association between idiopathic scoliosis (IS) and sports activities remains vague. We aimed to analyse their effect on full-time braced adolescents with IS. METHODS: We retrospectively recruited all the consecutive patients of a tertiary referral Institute of age ≥ 10 (adolescents), with a juvenile (JIS) or adolescent (AIS) IS diagnosis, Risser 0-2, TLSO brace prescription and self-reported adherence ≥ 20 h per day, and follow-up out-of-brace X-rays 18 months after brace prescription. We divided participants into two groups: SPORT (sport twice or more per week) and CONTROL (sport once per week or less). We calculated odds ratio (OR) to compare the outcome of subjects performing to those not performing sport. We ran a logistic regression with covariate adjustment to assess if sports frequency affected the outcomes. RESULTS: Out of 33,311 participants assessed for eligibility, 785 satisfied the inclusion criteria (693 females, age 12.7 ± 1.3 and 40 ± 11° Cobb). The SPORT group consisted of 290 participants and the CONTROL group of 495. The SPORT group showed higher odds of improvement (OR = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.17-2.16, p = 0.0018). The odds of improving increased with the frequency of sports activity (OR = 1.20, 95%CI 1.08-1.34). CONCLUSION: This study shows that sports activities increase the odds of improvement at 18-month follow-up in adolescents with IS treated with a full-time brace. The odds of improvement increase with sports week frequency.

Can bracing help adults with chronic back pain and scoliosis? Short-term results from a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Adult scoliosis is sometimes associated with back pain. Recently, the Peak™ Scoliosis Brace was designed to alleviate pain in adult patients with scoliosis. OBJECTIVES: To test the efficacy of the Peak Scoliosis Brace in reducing pain in adult scoliosis patients. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective experimental cohort study. METHODS: A total of 20 adult females with back pain secondary to idiopathic scoliosis were included. Patients were evaluated at baseline immediately before starting bracing and after 1 month. The brace had to be worn for at least 2 h per day. The outcome measures used were Graphical Rating Scale, Roland-Morris Questionnaire, Core Outcome Measurement Index, and Oswestry Disability Index. RESULTS: Worst pain, back pain, and leg pain significantly improved from 7.15 to 5.85, from 6.55 to 5.25, and from 5.65 to 3.55, respectively ( p < 0.05). A total of 75% of patients reported improved worst and leg pain, 65% improved back pain, 30% of patients achieved the minimal clinically significant difference of 2 points for worst pain, 60% for leg pain, and 25% for back pain. Roland-Morris Questionnaire and Core Outcome Measurement Index improved ( p < 0.05) and no differences were observed for Oswestry Disability Index. CONCLUSION: The Peak Scoliosis Brace led to some improvement of pain at 1 month in a group of adult women with scoliosis and chronic low back pain. The quality of life did not change significantly. Clinical relevance According to our data, the Peak Brace is helpful to quickly improve pain in patients with chronic low back pain secondary to scoliosis. To achieve this goal, it should be applied for at least 2 h per day.