Introduction: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common structural spinal deformity during the growth period and is characterized by a three-dimensional deformity of the spine and trunk. The diagnosis is established when the Cobb angle on a radiographic image exceeds 10º and vertebral rotation is present. The risk of curve progression is associated with skeletal maturity, the magnitude and type of the curve, and periods of rapid growth. The goal of conservative treatment is to prevent progression of the deformity and reduce the need for surgical intervention. Physiotherapeutic approaches represent an important part of conservative management, among which the most commonly used are physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises, the Schroth method, stabilization exercises, and the SEAS approach. Purpose: The purpose of this diploma work was to analyze the effectiveness of physiotherapy approaches in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis based on a review of professional and scientific literature. Methods: The results were obtained from the electronic database PubMed using the relevant keywords »scoliosis AND physiotherapy«. Randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of physiotherapeutic approaches in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were included in the review. Results: Five randomized controlled trials were included in the literature review. Three studies compared physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises with standard care, one study compared the Schroth method with muscle-strengthening exercises, and one study compared PSSE with stabilization exercises combined with brace treatment. In four of five studies, statistically significant improvements in the Cobb angle, reduction of trunk rotation, and improvement in quality of life were reported within the intervention groups. In three studies, statistically significant differences between the compared approaches were found, particularly in favor of the Schroth method and physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises. However, the results across studies were not entirely consistent, which limits the possibility of direct comparison between approaches. Discussion and conclusion: The results indicate the physiotherapeutic approaches play an important role in the conservative treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, as they may contribute to stabilization or slowing of curve progression, reduction of the rotational component of the deformity, and improvement in quality of life. The effectiveness of therapy also depends on the level of skeletal maturity and adherence to the exercise program. Due to methodological heterogeneity of the included studies, further research with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods, and standardized exercise protocols is needed.
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