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Background: The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the clinical outcome measures, either in separation or in conjunction with the Cobb angle, that were employed in randomized controlled trials to evaluate posture and spinal deformity. Methods: The PubMed, PEDro, OVID, and Scopus electronic databases were used to search for published articles from January 2004 to May 2024. All the searches included English language studies. Keywords were determined as "scoliosis, exercise, physical activity, brace, bracing, conservative treatment, rehabilitation, physiotherapy and physical therapy". Results: The most commonly used clinical evaluation parameters other than the Cobb angle in the studies were the ATR and surface topography measurements. The most commonly used assessment methods were POTSI asymmetry assessment performed with measurements made on photographs, the WRVAS, a deformity perception assessment evaluated with different photographs, and the SRS-22 scale, a disease-specific quality of life assessment. Conclusions: New developments in the treatment of scoliosis have brought about alternative measurement techniques that offer a more comprehensive view of patient outcomes. As a result of the review of the literature, it has emerged that radiation-free, valid, and reliable multidimensional evaluations should be performed in follow-up and treatment efficacy evaluations after initial diagnosis in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients have been found to exhibit cortical asymmetry. Although asymmetries in cortical structures have been found in patients with AIS, there has been no research on how conservative treatments affect cerebellar functional organization. Aims: This study aimed to examine the impact of conservative treatments on perceptual and cognitive asymmetry in the auditory system assessed by dichotic listening in AIS patients with thoracic major curves. Method: This study involved 30 AIS patients and 21 healthy subjects. The intervention group used a Cheneau brace and performed 18 Schroth Best Practice (SBP) exercise sessions. Auditory lateralization was assessed using the Dichotic Listening Paradigm (DLP) in both groups before and after the intervention. Results: The 6-week intervention resulted in a significant increase in left ear responses in the force-left condition in the AIS (p < 0.05). Left ear responses were lower in AIS at baseline (p < 0.05). The results at week 6 were similar in all conditions (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that SBP exercises and Cheneau brace treatment can improve perceptual and cognitive asymmetry in the auditory system in AIS patients with thoracic major curve. Scoliosis-associated changes in the spine and postural control may affect auditory perception by causing adaptations in sensory and motor networks. Future studies are needed to examine the connectivity in brain regions related to motor control and auditory processing after conservative treatment. Trial registration: Clinical trials number: NCT06141759. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bracing is an essential part of scoliosis treatment. The standard of brace treatment for patients with scoliosis today is still very variable in terms of brace quality and outcome. The Gensingen brace is a further developed Chêneau brace derivative with individual design, which can be adapted through computer-aided design. Objective: This study aims to generate a template to obtain a database for prospective multicenter studies study to analyze the results of high-corrective asymmetric Gensingen brace treatment for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods: A template for the database was created, which contains the patients' basic data (age, menarcheal status, Risser Sign, curve pattern, and daily brace wearing time), the Cobb angles of curvature, and the cosmetically relevant angles of trunk rotation (ATR). A retrospective review of medical records of patients with AIS, who met the Scoliosis Research Society's inclusion criteria for brace studies, was performed to test the feasibility of the template. Template items were filled in by the researchers. Results: Out of 115 patients between 2014 and 2018, the complete data of 33 patients followed up at least 3 months after complete Gensingen brace weaning could be analyzed. The mean age was 12 years, the mean Cobb angle was 33.6°, and the mean Risser value was 0.7 at the beginning of the treatment. The mean improvement in the Cobb angle on in-brace x-ray imaging was –26.1० (80% of in-brace correction). The Cobb angle of the major curvature changed as follows: curve stabilization was achieved in 7 (21.2%) cases, and curve improvement was achieved in 26 (78.8%) cases. None of the patients showed a curve progression. The Cobb angle was significantly reduced in the brace at the end of treatment and at follow-up evaluation (P <.001). ATR improved significantly for thoracic (P <.001) and lumbar curves (P <.001). Conclusions: The database proved to be informative in the assessment of radiological and clinical outcome parameters. The example data set we have generated can be a helpful tool for professionals who work in clinics but do not store regular patient data. Especially with regard to different patient collectives worldwide, different results may be achieved with the same standards of care. In addition, the results of this study suggest that above-average correction effects with a full-time brace application lead to significant improvements in the Cobb angle after brace treatment has been completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the number of studies showing the efficacy of conservative treatment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has increased, studies with long-term follow-up are very limited. The aim of this study was to present the long-term effects of a conservative management method including exercise and brace in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with idiopathic scoliosis who presented at our department and were followed up for at least 2 years after completing the treatment. The main outcome measurements were the Cobb angle and angle of trunk rotation (ATR). Results: The cohort participants were 90.4% female, with a mean age of 11 years and the maximum Cobb angle was mean 32.1°. The mean post-treatment follow-up period was 27.8 months (range 24–71 months). The improvements after treatment in mean maximum Cobb angle (p < 0.001) and ATR (p = 0.001) were statistically significant. At the end of treatment, the maximum Cobb angle was improved in 88.1% of the patients and worsened in 11.9% compared to baseline. In the long-term follow-up evaluations, 83.3% of the curvatures remained stable. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that moderate idiopathic scoliosis in growing adolescents can be successfully halted with appropriate conservative treatment and that long-term improvement is largely maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]