Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42647329›Full record

ReviewJournal of functional morphology and kinesiology2026

The Evidence of Physiotherapy Scoliosis-Specific Exercises in Treating Secondary Postural Deviations in Mild and Moderate Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Scoping Review.

Shkurta Rrecaj Malaj, Mejdi Aliu, Ardiana Murtezani, Tine Kovačič

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Shkurta Rrecaj MalajPhysiotherapy Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo.ORCID 0000-0002-0060-5144
Mejdi AliuPhysiotherapy Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo.
Ardiana MurtezaniPhysiotherapy Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo.
Tine KovačičPhysiotherapy Department, Alma Mater Europaea University, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity often associated with secondary postural deviations (pelvic asymmetry, altered kyphosis/lordosis, and postural imbalance), which may negatively affect psychological well-being and quality of life (QoL). Physiotherapy interventions designed specifically for scoliosis, known as Physiotherapy scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE), have shown effectiveness in improving primary structural outcomes such as Cobb angle (CA) and angle of trunk rotation (ATR); however, their influence on secondary postural deviations is still unclear. This scoping review aimed to summarize current evidence of PSSE on secondary postural deviations in children, adolescents, and young adults with mild to moderate IS: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, searches were conducted in PEDro, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar for studies published in the last 10 years. Eligible studies were appraised using study design-specific quality assessment tools. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) were evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale (PEDro), the retrospective cohort study was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and the prospective observational study was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist. Outcomes included pelvic asymmetry, spinal deviations, mobility, trunk symmetry/morphology, balance, proprioception, sensorimotor control, and QoL. Six studies involving 230 participants with mild-to-moderate IS were included. PSSE was associated with improvements in CA, ATR, postural alignment, spinal mobility, and QoL. Adjunctive interventions, including manual therapy (MT), proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), and hippotherapy, generally produced greater improvements in postural symmetry, pelvic alignment, proprioception, and sensorimotor control than PSSE alone. PSSE appears to improve structural, postural, and functional outcomes in individuals with IS, with adjunctive interventions potentially enhancing these effects. However, current evidence is limited by heterogeneity, highlighting the need for high-quality RCTs with standardized protocols and long-term follow-up.

Indexed as

idiopathic scoliosiskyphosislordosispelvic asymmetryphysiotherapy scoliosis-specific exercisesspinal mobilitytrunk symmetry and morphology

Identifiers

PMID42647329
PMCPMC13510499

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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 Socratic graph.