title: Influence of an in-patient exercise program on scoliotic curve.
abstract: In 107 patients with idiopathic scoliosis radiographs were performed under standard conditions immediately before and immediately after a 4-6 week in-patient exercise program at the Katharina-Schroth Hospital. The average angle of curvature as measured by the Cobb technique was 43.06 degrees (standard deviation = 22.87) before treatment and 38.96 degrees (SD = 23.00) after treatment. An improvement in the curve of 5 degrees or more was found in 43.93% of the patients, 53.27% were unchanged and in 2.8% the curve increased by 5 degrees or more. Altogether the improvements in curvature were highly significant. These results show that even in severe scoliosis the magnitude of the curve can be reduced by a specific rehabilitation program of physiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Katharina Schroth Klinik, Spinal Deformities Rehabilitation Center, Sobernheim, Germany.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome