Journal of Spinal Disorders
2000, Volume 13, Number 2
Vert Mooney, Jennifer Gulick, Robert Pozos
US Spine & Sport Center, Worldwide Clinical Trials, and San Diego State University
Study Outcomes & Clinical Relevance: The authors studied 12 adolescent patients with scoliosis (10 girls and 2 boys) who were 11 to 16 years old and had curvatures ranging from 20 to 60 degrees. When tested on the MedX Rotary Torso Machine, both sides were unequal in their torso rotation strength in all patients. These asymmetries were correct completely with torso rotation, which was associated with significant strength gains. Strength gains ranged from 12% to 40%. A 16 year old girl with a 60 degree lumbar curve progressed and had surgery. None of the remaining patients progressed and 4 of the 12 had decreases in their curvatures from 20 to 28 degrees. These results are equal to or better than 23 hour per day bracing. None of the patients used braces during this study.