Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most encountered spinal deformity in growing children, which may bring significant impacts on patients’ physical function, appearance, and overall quality of life. A physiatrist plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis of AIS and longitudinal management through continuous care. Contemporary management for AIS is according to the skeletal maturity, the magnitude of the spinal curves, and the risk of progression. For mild curves, therapeutic exercises, particularly physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE), are employed as a conservative approach to improve postural symmetry and reduce the risk of curve progression. Bracing is required for moderate curves from 25 to 45 degrees in skeletally immature cases. Strict compliance with bracing is critical for therapeutic success. In cases that are rapidly progressive or in severe curves exceeding 40 to 45 degrees, spinal fusion surgery is considered the definitive treatment. Recent advancements in non-fusion and motion-preserving techniques provide alternative options to traditional fusion surgery. To protect maximal neurological function, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is currently the trend for spinal deformity correction surgery. The care for AIS patients is an individualized, multidisciplinary, patient-centered, growth-sensitive approach, aiming to optimize outcomes and minimize long-term complications. This review outlines a comprehensive rehabilitation-oriented strategy for AIS patients from the perspective of a physiatrist, encompassing clinical assessment, conservative management with observation, therapeutic exercises, bracing, and further considerations in referral to spinal surgery.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Evaluating the Effectiveness of sEMG Biofeedback for Posture Training and Scoliosis Management Yiu-Hong Wong, Mei-chun Cheung, Qi-Wen Emma Lei, Joanne Yip, Yoel A. Klug BioMed Research International.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Interrelationships among 3D spinal alignment variables during active self-correction in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis Arkadiusz Żurawski, Sun-Young Ha European Spine Journal.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Three-Dimensional Surface Topography for the Assessment of Spinal Alignment: A Cross-Sectional Study of Biomechanical Correlates Brigitte Osser, Csongor Toth, Gyongyi Osser, Laura Ioana Bondar, Liliana-Oana Pobirci, Florin Mihai Marcu, Ramona Nicoleta Suciu, Nicoleta Anamaria Pascalau, Adina Mincic, Corina Dalia Toderescu Diagnostics.2026; 16(10): 1445. CrossRef
Economic evaluation of school scoliosis screening in Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Gansu Province: a cost-utility analysis based on decision tree-Markov model Shaobo Yang, Juan Wang, Peiji Miao, Chen Zhang, Jin Huang, Xiaoyun Yuan, Yanxiang Zhang, Xiaohui Dou, Zhenheng Zhang, Zhe Liu, Jianjun Duan, Xueting Xu, Jiantao Wen, Shunjun Cui, Xiaole Zhu Frontiers in Public Health.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Comment on “Automatic radiation-free evaluation of Cobb angle for spinal curvature based on fringe projection profilometry and deep learning technology” Y. M. Manu, Suresha Devaraju, B. M. Praveen Spine Deformity.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Factors Associated With Follow-Up Attendance After School Scoliosis Screening: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study Takuya Nagai, Syuji Kurogi, Kiyoshi Higa, Shota Amano, Takayuki Matsumoto, Takumi Takahashi, Naosuke Kamei Cureus.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
The Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis Phenotype Is Not Well Characterized by Individual Scoliosis ICD Codes in Health Care Databases Kaleb Taylor, Susan Graham, Cassidy Yoshida, Harry Smith, Ethan M. Lange, Randi K. Johnson, Siera Rossi, Nancy Hadley-Miller, Patrick M. Carry Spine Open.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Dynamic Infrared Thermography Reveals Bilateral Thermal Recovery Asymmetry in Scoliosis Daniel Faizy, Ramazan Beşir Yaman, Seda Nilgün Dumlu, Tuğçe Yavuz, Muhammet Alptekin Kocaoğlu, Akif Albayrak, Hande Argunsah Journal of Clinical Medicine.2026; 15(14): 5720. CrossRef
Objective To quantify differences in fatigue and disordered sleep between adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and their typically developing peers. A secondary aim was to investigate the association between fatigue and disordered sleep in adolescents with CP.
Methods A convenience sample of 36 youth with CP aged 10–18 years was matched for age and sex with 36 typically developing peers. The Fatigue Impact and Severity Self-Assessment (FISSA), the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) fatigue profile, and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) were collected.
Results Higher fatigue was reported in participants with CP than in their typically developing peers based on the FISSA total score (mean paired difference=19.06; 99% confidence interval [CI], 6.06–32.1), the FISSA impact subscale (mean paired difference=11.19; 99% CI, 3.96–18.4), and the FISSA Management and Activity Modification subscale (mean paired difference=7.86; 99% CI, 1.1–14.6). There were no differences between groups in the PROMIS fatigue profile (mean paired difference=1.63; 99% CI, -1.57–4.83) or the SDSC total score (mean paired difference=2.71; 99% CI, -2.93–8.35).
Conclusion Youth with CP experienced significantly more fatigue than their peers as assessed by a comprehensive measure that considered both general and diagnosis-specific concerns. Sleep did not differ between youth with CP and their typically developing peers. These findings underscore the need to consider the clinical management of fatigue across the lifespan of individuals with CP to prevent the associated deterioration of functional abilities.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Exploring effective ICT use for communication support in students with severe physical disabilities: a descriptive qualitative study Iroha Sugino, Risa Takashima Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology.2026; 21(1): 297. CrossRef
Self-perceived fatigue in relation to activity and participation in adolescents and adults with cerebral palsy living in urban South Africa Nelleke Gertrude Langerak, Roshaan Salie, Kirsten Ann Donald, Anthony Graham Fieggen, Maaike Maria Eken Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine.2026; 19(2): 91. CrossRef
Understanding Physical Activity Demands and Reported Perceptions of Fatigue in Children with Developmental Disabilities Kavya Iyer, Richard Stevenson, Vydia Permashwar, Brittany Howell, Stephanie DeLuca Behavioral Sciences.2026; 16(6): 945. CrossRef
Influences of modes and intensities of handgrip exercise on neuromuscular fatigue in young adults with cerebral palsy Elisabeth Paskali, Jiaqi Guo, Pu-Chun Mo, Liwan Huang, Mansoureh Samadi, Jeannette Elliott, Yih-Kuen Jan Research in Developmental Disabilities.2026; 176: 105363. CrossRef
Prevalence of sleep problems in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis Zain Ali Nadeem, Obaid Ur Rehman, Umar Akram, Muhammad Ali Iftikhar, Hamza Irfan, Eeshal Fatima, Hiba Imran, Sonia Hurjkaliani, Alishba Khan Sleep Medicine.2025; 132: 106552. CrossRef
Comparing Self-Report Fatigue Assessment Tools for Adults with Cerebral Palsy in a Danish Context Ro Julia Robotham, Michelle Barner Bærentzen, Frederik Lehman Dornonville de la Cour Developmental Neurorehabilitation.2024; 27(1-2): 34. CrossRef
Prevalence and associations of fatigue in childhood atopic dermatitis: A cross‐sectional study Stephanie M. Rangel, Theodore Kim, Anjani Sheth, Alli Blumstein, Jin‐Shei Lai, David Cella, Amy S. Paller, Jonathan I. Silverberg Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.2023; 37(4): 763. CrossRef
Real‐time daily fatigue, sleep, physical activity, and health‐related fitness in adults with cerebral palsy Olaf Verschuren, Joyce L. Benner, Astrid C. J. Balemans, Herwin Horemans, Rita Johanna G. Van Den Berg‐Emons, Wilma M. A. Van Der Slot Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.2023; 65(4): 509. CrossRef
Prevalence of fatigue in adolescents and adults with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis Dinesh Ghatamaneni, Sarthak Kohli, Sue Peters, Joy MacDermid, Laura Brunton Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior.2023; 11(2-4): 157. CrossRef
Objective To determine the relation of Radiographic Scoring System and Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22), a revised form of health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) questionnaire in idiopathic adolescent scoliosis patients. Method: A patient group was made up of 41 adolescents who were diagnosed as idiopathic scoliosis. A control group of 17 persons with Cobb's angle ＜10o was established. To evaluate psychosocial condition, SRS-22 was used to collect the data on both patient and control group. Roentgenographic study was conducted to obtain the Radiographic Deformity Score and evaluate the curve pattern. Results: Pain, self image/appearance, mental health and total score of SRS domains were found to be significantly different between patient and control group (p＜0.05). Radiog raphic Deformity Score was positively correlated with pain and self image of SRS domains (p＜0.05). However, the pattern of curve was found to be not correlated with SRS score. Conclusion: We could evaluate a psychologic condition of idiopathic adolescent scoliosis using Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) questionnaire. The more severe spinal deformity, it had the more negative influence on psychologic conditions in idiopathic adolescent scoliosis patients. Therefore, the clinician who is managing idiopathic adolescent scoliosis patients should consider their psychosocial conditions. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2004; 28: 259-264)
First
Prev
