Comparison of Three Methods of Routine, Self-correction, and Mixed Corrective Exercise on Lateral Curvature Degree in Non-Structural Scoliotic Subjects

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the spinal column together with the lateral deviation and the rotation of the vertebra around the vertical axis. The present study aimed to identify the effects of three methods of routine (Stretch-Strength Exercise), self-corrective, and mixed corrective exercises (Routine and Self-corrective exercise) on spinal lateral deviation degree (degree of scoliosis) in non-structural scoliotic individuals. In the current study, 53 participants (32 females and 21 men) with non-structural scoliosis (average age: 23.36± 2.22 yrs., height: 168.61±8.3 cm, and weight: 62.65± 8.55 kg) were purposefully selected and randomly divided into four groups: routine (no= 14), self-corrective (no= 13), mixed exercises group (no= 14), and the control group (no= 12). Each of the participants performed corrective exercise protocols for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week, and 60-75 minutes per session, while the control group continued their daily life activities. Spinal lateral deviations (degree of scoliosis) were measured before and after eight weeks of corrective exercises using photogrammetry method based on the coordinate system and Corel Draw computer software model 11.0. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. ANOVA was run to determine the interactive effect of the intervention on the four groups. For intra-group comparisons, t-tests were run and one-way variance analysis for comparisons between groups. The significance level was set at 95% with α 5%. Findings of the present study indicated that after eight weeks of routine, self-corrective, and mixed exercises, participants’ degree of scoliosiss in the exercise groups significantly decreased (P<0.05). Based on the findings, the highest effects in reducing the angle of scoliosis were respectively observed for the mixed exercise (ES: 5.08), routine (ES: 4.06) and self-corrective (ES: 3.24) groups. Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the mixed exercise protocol, including self-corrective, stretch-strength exercise, is an effective method for reducingdegree of scoliosisin individuals with non-structural scoliosis abnormalities.