Research Information System
Albanian Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, vol.67, pp.1-17, 2025 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Abstract
Introductionː The effectiveness of
physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises
(PSSE) over general exercises (GE) in
adolescents’ idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a topic
of much debate.
Methodː PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase,
and PEDro databases were systematically
searched for studies comparing PSSE versus GE
and reported the outcomes of Cobb angle (CA),
Anterior Trung Rotation (ATR), and Quality of
life (QoL). Mean differences (MD) and 95%
confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using a
random- effects model. Heterogeneity was
examined with I2 statistics.
ResultsːWe included 6 RCTs and 3 observational
studies with 749 patients with AIS, of whom 442
(59.1%) patients received PSSE therapy and 307
(40.9%) were assigned to GE. The mean age was
13.57 years. Mean follow-up ranged from 3 to 54
months. Risser signs 0-5. PSSE significantly
reduced Cobb angle (MD -3.10˚; 95%CI [- 5.55,-
0.66]; I2=91%; p=0.01) and ATR (MD -2.13˚;
95%CI [-3.05, -1.22]; I2=89%; p<0.001) as
compared with GE. There was no statistical
difference between groups in QoL analyzed by
the Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire 22
total score (MD 0.06˚; 95%CI [-0.21, 0.34];
I2=88%; p=0.64).
Conclusionsː These findings suggest that PSSE
promoted a higher reduction in Cobb angle and
ATR than GE in patients with AIS without a
significant impact in QoL.