Scoliosis and back pain: a new study

Great new study looked at scoliosis of people from age 20 and 65 and compared their back problems. Average age was in the 40s, nearly half of the people had been treated with a brace, and nearly a quarter had surgery.

The average prevalence of back pain was 64% in people with scoliosis and 29% in people without scoliosis (P < 0.001!!). Of people with scoliosis that did not have a brace with surgery, 69% had back pain; those treated with a brace 61% had back pain; and in those treated with surgery 64% had back pain. Male versus female scoliosis patients and juvenile versus adolescent showed no significant differences in back problems.

The study’s conclusion: “Adults with idiopathic scoliosis have a higher prevalence of back problems than individuals without scoliosis. Treatment, gender and juvenile or adolescent onset of diagnosis was not related to the prevalence of back problems in adulthood.”

Weiniger’s takeaway: Posture affects back pain. Big time!

My conjecture: Systematically training people with (or without) scoliosis to engage otherwise neglected spinal muscles with controlled motion, attentional focus exercise can impact low back pain. If you are in a University research setting and would like to discuss possible models, I would love to talk.  My email is DrWeiniger_at_ BodyZone.com.

Grauers A, Topalis C, Möller H, Normelli H, Karlsson M, Danielsson A, Gerdhem P (2014 Apr 8). Prevalence of Back Problems in 1069 Adults With Idiopathic Scoliosis and 158 Adults Without Scoliosis. Spine Journal. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24718070?dopt=abstract#