Effects of exercise interventions on adolescents with mild to moderate scoliosis: a meta-analysis.
Exercise therapy is associated with large reductions in Cobb angle in idiopathic scoliosis
Effects of exercise interventions on adolescents with mild to moderate scoliosis: a meta-analysis.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (adolescent idiopathic scoliosis) is a prevalent spinal deformity that impairs physical function and quality of life.
We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases from inception to October 2025 for randomized controlled trials (randomized controlled trials) investigating exercise in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
Hedge's g effect size; above 0.8 is considered large, favoring exercise
Subgroup analyses further indicated that Schroth-based training ( Hedge's = 1.304) and combined approaches ( e.g. , exercise with orthotic management) yielded the most favorable outcomes.
Importantly, both short-term (≤12 weeks, 1-2 sessions/week) and long-term (≥25 weeks, ≥5 sessions/week) intervention durations demonstrated significant clinical efficacy.
Exercise therapy demonstrates significant potential as a fundamental conservative intervention for improving spinal morphology, function, and quality of life in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.
The current evidence supports its integration into primary clinical management protocols.
Future research should focus on conducting multi-center randomized controlled trials to validate long-term efficacy and to establish optimal, individualized intervention protocols.