Investigation of the effectiveness of spinal mobilisation techniques in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

This study aims to investigate the effects of spinal mobilisation techniques on curve severity, trunk rotation angle (ATR), trunk flexibility, respiratory function, cosmetic deformity and quality of life parameters in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. The study was conducted on 40 AIS patients and randomised into mobilisation (n= 20, female= 12, male= 8; age= 12,9± 1,8 years) and control (n= 20, female= 13, male= 7; age= 12,85± 1,81 years) groups. The mobilisation group received spinal mobilisation and core stabilisation exercises and the control group received only core stabilisation exercises. Both groups were treated two days a week for 10 weeks. Before and after the treatment, the severity of curvature was evaluated using Cobb angle, trunk rotation angle (ATR) scoliometer, trunk flexibility, trunk range of motion goniometer, pulmonary function tests spirometer, cosmetic deformity perception using Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale (WRVAS) and quality of life using Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22). According to the results of the study, significant improvements were observed in Cobb angle and ATR, trunk flexibility and joint movements, PEF (peak expiratory flow) and FVC (forced vital capacity), cosmetic deformity perception and quality of life parameters in both groups, but this change was significantly higher in the mobilisation group (p<0.05). Improvement in FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1st second) was found to be significant only in the mobilisation group, while FEV1/FVC ratio did not show a statistically significant change in both groups (p<0.05). The findings indicate that the incorporation of spinal mobilisation into the management of AIS patients with mild curvature represents a viable therapeutic strategy for mitigating the severity of the curvature.