Isometric Yoga-Like Maneuvers Improve Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis—A Nonrandomized Control Trial

Abstract

Objective Assess therapeutic value of specific yoga poses for thoracic and lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) taught in office or Internet. Study Design Nonrandomized control trial: Fifty-six adolescents (mean age 14.0 years; mean Risser 3.0) were recruited from our clinic; 41 did the side-plank, the half-moon and elevated side plank poses as appropriate (treatment group) and 15 did not (controls). Thirty curves were treated in office, 30 via Internet. Curve change was evaluated by blinded serial Cobb angles, and analyzed using Mann-Whitney U, paired t-tests and χ2. Results Mean lumbar and thoracolumbar Cobb angle change was −9.2 (95% CI = −11.8, −6.6) in the treatment group and 5.4 (95% CI = 1.7, 9.0) in controls. Both treatment group improvement and deterioration in controls were significant (treatment group: paired t-test t = −7.1, df = 40, p = .000; controls: t = 3.2, df = 12, p = .008). Mean thoracic Cobb angle change was −7.1 (95% CI = −13.1, −1.2) in the treatment group and 9.3 (95% CI = 4.5, 14.6) in controls. Both changes were significant (paired t-test t = −3.3, df = 21, p = .022 for treatment group; t = 4.5, df = 5, p = .006 for controls). Nine Internet patients were non-compliant vs. 6 office patients. Office patients improved 1.6 degrees/month or 5.5%/month; Internet patients improved .72 degrees/month or 3.3%/month. Conclusion These yoga poses show promise for reversing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Telemedicine had greater non-compliance and lower efficacy but still produced patient improvement.

Analysis of Treatments of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

“…There are also different physical therapy methods, including yoga and Schroth methods [6]. Yoga has been widely used for AIS, because of its convenience and innocuous advantages [7].…”

“…The study of yoga exercise shows great potential as an innocuous, efficient and simple therapy in early stage of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, especially among adolescent girls [7]. Patient's pride and sense of competence increased as their curves decreased [7]. Because the intervention was simple, time-saving and painless, it did not have strong obstacles to compliance.…”

“…The journal article on yoga covered most of claims in the media and had deeper studies on different yoga and yoga-like poses for three types of scoliotic curve [7]. The media article suggested that the benefits of yoga for other health problems, such as anxiety and depression in expectant mothers and lower blood pressure, which was supported by the journal article [9].…”

“…The trial of yoga treatment for scoliosis [7] has the following strengths: (1) It was an innocuous, simple, high compliance and almost costless trial; (2) Research question was clear and practical and the endpoints were appropriate; (3) The outcome assessor was blinded, which can limit general bias; (4) The intervention did not have strong obstacles to compliance; (5) the findings were generalizable to usual patients and settings: adequate eligibility criteria; and (6) Relevant research was performed on the disease background, transmitted methods.…”

“…The study was single masking with parallel assignment, lasting six years and seven months [1]. The journal article written by Loren M. Fishman presented the effectiveness of isometric yoga and yoga-like poses for different scoliosis curve types [7]. They studied multiple avenues of yoga teaching, including in person studios and online through the Internet.…”