Research on Scoliosis
ScoliSMART doctors have published many peer-reviewed research papers on the effectiveness of alternative scoliosis treatments. Our research on scoliosis has led to discoveries in scoliosis causes as well as innovative and successful non-invasive treatment options.
Highlights Clinical Research by ScoliSMART
93% of patients didn’t reach the surgical threshold. The average improvement was 9-15 degrees
51.7% of patients achieved curve correction and 38.3% achieved stabilization. In the curve correction group, average total correction was 12.75°
Chiropractic Rehabilitation for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: End-of-Growth and Skeletal Maturity Results
2 hours of ScoliSMART Activity Suit as effective as full-time back braces
AIS patients were able to prevent their curves from progressing during growth, while those participating in an observation-only strategy saw their curves progress to beyond threshold where rigid brace prescription is recommended
Early Intervention versus Standard of Care for Mild Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Case-Controlled Series Based on Sosort Criteria Evaluating the Impact of a Scoliosis Activity Suit
18 month follow up of adults with the ScoliSMART Activity Suit
79% of patients achieved a curve correction of an average between 10-12 degrees
Pain and Radiographic Outcomes in Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients Using a Scoliosis Activity Suit: An 18-Month Case Controlled Chart Review
Follow up study of adults with spinal fusion using the ScoliSMART Activity Suit
The spinal fusion group achieved significant improvements in Cobb angle, pain scores, and quality of life rating after 6 months.
Clinical outcomes of a scoliosis activity suit worn by patients with chronic post-fusion pain: 6-month case-controlled results.
14 or more genetic variants increase risk of severe scoliosis progression by 33%
79% of patients achieved a curve correction of an average between 10-12 degrees
Pain and Radiographic Outcomes in Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients Using a Scoliosis Activity Suit: An 18-Month Case Controlled Chart Review
Among patients initiating a combined approach, 81% of patients achieved an average improvement of 9.4 degrees, while 19% remained stable until skeletal maturity. None of the patients progressed
Chiropractic Rehabilitation Plus Nighttime Bracing for Progressive Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Case-Controlled Series
Estrogen genetic variant linked to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Patients with idiopathic scoliosis had a significantly higher number of genetic variants compared to non-scoliosis patients. Scoliosis patients whose curves exceeded the surgical threshold of 50 degrees had a significantly higher number of genetic variants compared to those below 50 degrees.
Functional genomic variant patterns in Caucasian patients diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis: a controlled, observational study
Abnormal neurotransmitter patterns linked to curve progression
Patients with progressive idiopathic scoliosis showed significantly different neurotransmitter levels compared to mild scoliosis and those without scoliosis.
Association between Urinary Neurotransmitter Status and Scoliosis Progression: A Case-Controlled Series
Nutrient therapies improve treatment outcomes
Patients participating in a neurotransmitter rebalancing program along with scoliosis-specific exercises sustained 3 times as much Cobb angle correction as compared to those only doing scoliosis-specific exercises.
Can Neurotransmitter Status Affect the Results of Exercise-Based Scoliosis Treatment? Results of a Controlled Comparative Chart Review
MTHFR genetic variant linked to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Patients with idiopathic scoliosis were 2-3 times more likely to have a single or double MTHFR gene variant compared to non-scoliosis patients.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Gene Mutations in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Clinical Chart Review
Original clinical research studies
Chiropractic Rehabilitation of a Scoliosis Family: Results from a 9-Year Follow-Up
Open Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 2016; 05(01):29-35
Changes in Urinary Bone Resorption Marker after Taking a Combination Nutrient Formula in Adults with Scoliosis: A Retrospective, Open-Label, Case-Controlled Series
Open Journal of Internal Medicine 2015; 06(01):6-10
Controlled-Release Curcumin for the Treatment of Pain Related to Adult Degenerative Scoliosis: A Retrospective, Open-Label, Case-Controlled Series
Journal of Pain & Relief 2014; 04(04)
Results of chiropractic scoliosis rehabilitation treatment at two years post-skeletal maturity in identical female twins
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 2015 Oct;19(4):592-6.
Clinical Evaluation of the Ability of a Proprietary Scoliosis Traction Chair to De-Rotate the Spine: 6-month Results of Cobb Angle and Rotational Measurements
Clinics and Practice 2014; 4:642
Outcome observations in patients using a scoliosis activity suit: A retrospective chart review after one-year follow-up.
Journal of Scoliosis Rehabilitation 2013; Oct 4: 1-10
Outcomes for adult scoliosis patients receiving chiropractic rehabilitation: A 24-month retrospective analysis
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2011; 10(3):179-84
The Relationship Between Cervical Kyphosis and Idiopathic Scoliosis
Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 2008; Oct 13: 1-4
Radiographic disk height increase after a trial of multimodal spine rehabilitation and vibration traction: a retrospective case series
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2008; 7(4):140-5
Improvement in Forward Head Posture, Cervical Lordosis, and Pulmonary Function with Chiropractic Care, Anterior Head Weighting and Whole Body Vibration: A Retrospective Study
Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health 2009; Oct 12: 1-7
Scoliosis treatment using a combination of manipulative and rehabilitative therapy: A retrospective case series
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2004; 5(1):32
Integrative Treatment Using Chiropractic and Conventional Techniques for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Outcomes in Four Patients
Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 2007; Jul 9: 1-
Outcomes for adult scoliosis patients receiving chiropractic rehabilitation: A 24-month retrospective analysis
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2011; 10(3):179-84
Unique Case Reports
Resolution of Amenorrhea and Chronic Constipation in an Adult Patient with Idiopathic Scoliosis Wearing a Scoliosis Activity Suit for 6 Months: A Case Report
Open Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 2017; 06(02):76-84
Radiographic, Pain, and Functional Outcomes in an Adult Post-Fusion Patient Using a Scoliosis Activity Suit: Comparative Results after 8 Months
International Journal of Clinical Medicine 2015; 07(04):265-269
Four-Year Follow-Up of a Patient Undergoing Chiropractic Rehabilitation for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health 2011; May 16: 54-58
Management of a 59-year-old female patient with adult degenerative scoliosis using manipulation under anesthesia
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2010 Jun;9(2):77-83.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treatment using the Pettibon corrective procedures: a case report
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2007; 6(2):83-4
Scoliosis treatment using spinal manipulation and the Pettibon Weighting System™: A summary of 3 atypical presentations
Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2006; 14(1):1
Improvement of lower extremity electrodiagnostic findings following a trial of spinal manipulation and motion-based therapy
Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2006; 14(1):20
Position Papers, Commentaries, and Literature Reviews
Chiropractic Treatments for Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Narrative Review Based on SOSORT Outcome Criteria
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2017 Mar;16(1):64-71.
Neurotransmitter status and idiopathic scoliosis: A commentary on pathways, testing, clinical utility, and treatment
Current Pediatric Research 2016; 20: 16-19
A Functional Explanation for a Proprietary External Head Weighting Device: A Commentary on Proposed Neurophysiological Mechanisms
Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research 2013; Oct 28: 73-76
Tissue-specific Characteristics and Requirements for Long-Term Scoliosis Rehabilitation: An ICSB Position Paper
Journal of Scoliosis Rehabilitation 2013; Jun 27: 1-11
Cobbs Angle in Scoliosis Gold Standard or Golden Calf? A Commentary on Scoliosis Outcome Assessments
J. Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health 2010; Jan 19: 6-10
Reflex control of the spine and posture: A review of the literature from a chiropractic perspective
Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2005; 13(1):16
Society Presentations and Abstracts
A long-lever spinal orthosis for idiopathic scoliosis: corrective potential in 10 patients
Scoliosis 2013; 8(Suppl 2):O53
Neurotransmitter patterns in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS)
Scoliosis 2013; 8(Suppl 2):O1
Manipulation under anesthesia for adult scoliosis pain: case series with 1-year follow-up
Scoliosis 2013; 8(Suppl 2)
Cobb angle outcomes for adults scoliosis patients receiving a multimodal neuromuscular re-education based treatment: 18-27 month follow-up
Scoliosis 2010; 5(Suppl 1)
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