Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32718339›Full record

SynthesisBMC musculoskeletal disorders2020

Effectiveness of scoliosis-specific exercises for alleviating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review.

Yunli Fan, Qing Ren, Michael Kai Tsun To, Jason Pui Yin Cheung

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 52 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
52citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
8.4field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

52 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 78 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  4. Effect of Therapeutic Exercise on the Management of Hyperkyphosis in Adolescence and Young Adulthood: A Systematic Review.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2025
    Pooled it
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  7. Therapeutic exercises for idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024
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  10. Trial
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  17. Radiographic and perceptual outcomes of shoulder imbalance in AIS: bracing alone versus bracing with Schroth methods.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.

Yunli FanDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, 1 Haiyuan 1st Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Qing RenDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, 5/F Professional Block, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Michael Kai Tsun ToDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, 1 Haiyuan 1st Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Jason Pui Yin CheungDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, 1 Haiyuan 1st Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. cheungjp@hku.hk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7052-0875
Queen Mary Hospital · CN

Funding

Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen SZSM201612055
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common pediatric spinal deformity with reported complications including pain, mental health concern and respiratory dysfunction. The scoliosis-specific exercise (SSE) is prescribed throughout pubertal growth to slow progression although effects are unclear. This review aims to establish the effectiveness of SSE for alleviating AIS in terms of reducing Cobb angle, improving trunk asymmetry and quality of life (QoL). Additionally, it aims to define the effects of age, skeletal maturity, curve magnitude and exercise compliance on the outcomes of SSE.

methodsA systematic reviewed was conducted to net SSE articles. Searched databases included PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL and Google scholar. The quality of study was critically appraised according to the PEDro scale.

resultsA total of ten trials with an average PEDro score of 6.9/10 were examined in this study. Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two clinical controlled trials suggested that SSE alone and with bracing or traditional exercise had clinical significance in reducing Cobb angle more than 5°. One RCT specifically implicated no comparable effects between bracing and SSE in prevention of curve progression for moderate scoliosis. There was insufficient evidence to support the positive effects of SSE on improving truck asymmetry (n = 4) and QoL (n = 3). Five studies evaluated the interaction effects of age (n = 2), skeletal maturity (n = 1) and curve magnitude (n = 2) with SSE in reducing Cobb angle yet without drawing any firm conclusions.

conclusionsInsufficient evidence is available to prove that SSE with or without other conservative treatments can reduce Cobb angle, improve trunk balance and QoL. The interaction effects of age, skeletal maturity, curve magnitude, and exercise compliance with SSE in reducing Cobb angle are not proven. Future studies should investigate the relationship of influencing factors and SSE in treating AIS but not only testing its effectiveness.

trial registrationINPLASY202050100 .

Indexed as

KyphosisScoliosisAdolescentBracesChildExerciseExercise TherapyHumansAdolescent idiopathic scoliosisCobb angleQuality of lifeScoliosis specific exerciseTruncal asymmetry

Identifiers

PMID32718339
PMCPMC7385878
OpenAlexW3031714607

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.