Comparative Kinetic Methods used for the Therapy of Idiopathic Scoliosis in Adolescents

Abstract

Scoliosis is one of the most common axial deviations of the spine. Because of its incidence and the fact that, with the evolution of technology, adolescents spend increasingly more time sitting at desk, adopting positions often incorrect, this paper aims to study the evolution of adolescent patients diagnosed with scoliosis using different kinetic methods of treatment. Another objective is to highlight the most effective method of treatment in terms of overall rehabilitation period, the time spent by the patient in the rehabilitation centre and the preservation of scoliosis correction. 9 adolescents patients (aged between 14 and 17 years) with idiopathic scoliosis were divided into three groups based on the followed kinetic method. Three patients underwent a physical therapy program based on the conventional Klapp and Cotrel method, three patients performed Schroth method, and the other three patients performed Vojta method. All patients were monitored for 6 months. They followed a certain rehabilitation therapy in a specialized centre under the guidance of specialized therapist. Height, weight and scoliosis curvature (measured by the Cobb angle) were assessed at the beginning of the program and after 6 months of kinetic program. The small number of patients in each group could not issue conclusions regarding the statistical efficiency of the three methods of therapy. However, besides the conventional therapy, both Schroth method and Vojta method represent possibilities to treat the adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis.