1. Degenerative Scoliosis and Physical Therapy
Amanda Hong
Lauren Davidson

2. Introduction Amanda Hong Lauren Davidson
Major: Nutrition
Career Goal: Registered Dietitian
Lauren Davidson
Major: Health Psychology
Career Goal: Public Health Educator
Objective: how to prevent degenerative scoliosis through exercising and proper nutrition

3. A.S.P.I.R.E. Physical Therapy
Athletic Spinal Preventative Industrial Rehabilitation Ergonomics
Location: 894 Meinecke Avenue, San Luis Obispo
Practitioner: Tyrone G. McSorely
Interview Overview:
Elderly patients
Scoliosis and treatment
Posture
Why?

4. Scoliosis
An abnormal, side-to-side, curvature (single “C” or double “S”) of the spine
4 Main Types:
Idiopathic
Congenital
Neuromuscular
Degenerative
Prevalence:
Idiopathic is in 2% of population
More prevalent in girls than boys
Girls are 8X more likely than boys to need treatment
Idiopathic
- AKA adolescent
- unknown cause
-most common
Congenital
- develops in utero
Neuromuscular
- caused by neuromuscular diseases, i.e. cerbral palsy
Degenerative
- occurs in adulthood (65+ years)
- deterioration of facet joints
- can be caused by osteoporosis L

5. Regions of the Spinal Column

6. Single “C”

7. Double “S”

8. Rib Cage Rotation

9. Degenerative Scoliosis: Overview
A spinal deformity with a Cobb angle >10°, which develops after skeletal maturity without any previous history of scoliosis.
Risk Factors:
Life-style, intrinsic mediators, hormonal factors, genetic factors
Causes:
Gradual deterioration of facet joints; same process as osteoarthritis of spine
Osteoporosis, or other degenerative diseases of the spinal column
Diagnosis:
X-ray, changes in height & motor function, presence of pain, medical history
Prevalence: 2013: 6% in Americans 50+ years

10. Degenerative Scoliosis

11. Primary Research Article
Title: Active self-correction and task-oriented exercises reduce spinal deformity and improve quality of life in subjects with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Results of a randomized controlled trial.
Purpose: to see how active self-correction and task- oriented exercises affects spinal deformities and health-related quality of life

12. Methods Participants: Experimental Group: Control Group: IV: DV:
Adolescents [10-12 years]
Cobb angle 10°-25°
Experimental Group:
Active self-correction tailored to the type of curve of scoliosis
Control Group:
General exercises aimed at spinal mobilization
IV:
Physical exercises
Education sessions
DV:
Cobb angle

13. Results, Limitations, & Strengths
Experimental Group:
Had a decrease in Cobb angle >5°
Control Group:
Cobb angle remained stable
Limitations
Exercise compliance and adherence could not be fully guaranteed
Mixing rib humps with lumbar humps may lead to an incorrect interpretation of the results
Strengths
Focused on individual differences in spinal curve

14. Treatment Overview Types of treatment: Surgical Non-Surgical
Lumbar decompression plus fusion surgery
Non-Surgical
Pain relievers, epidural/facet injections
Chiropractic/Osteopathic manipulation
Bracing
Pool/water therapy
Weight loss
Yoga
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Interferential therapy
Manual therapy
Exercises

15. Physical Therapy Manual Therapy Exercise and Stretching
Massage
Manipulation
Mobilization
Exercise and Stretching
Innercore strengthening 50
Interferential Therapy

16. Central Nervous System
Interferential therapy
Crisscross electrical currents targeting sympathetic nervous system
Helps improve blood circulation, musculoskeletal pain, and edema
Corrects imbalance of neurotransmitters
Norepinephrine/epinephrine
Uses: burn victims, GI system, edema, scoliosis and more A

17. Interferential Therapy

18. AMANDA!

19. Class Survey: Physical Therapy and Degenerative Scoliosis
Question
6) Scoliosis is
An exaggerated curve in the spine resulting I a rounded or hunched back (45%)
An abnormal side-to-side spinal curve (55%)
7) The main difference between idiopathic scoliosis and degenerative scoliosis is that idiopathic scoliosis has no known cause, while degenerative has a known cause
True (44%)
False (55%)
8) What is the cure for degenerative scoliosis?
There is no cure, only maintenance (55%)
10) Physical therapy is a common treatment that is recommended by physicians for scoliosis
True (78%)
False (22%) L

20. Conclusion Highly recommended! Additional Research Needed:
Nutrition + Scoliosis
Degenerative + Physical Therapy

21. Learn By Doing If it looks good, try it Learn By Being Is the ability to take the knowledge you learn and turn it into wisdom

22. References
1.  Active self-correction and task-oriented exercises reduce spinal deformity and improve quality of life in subjects with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Results of a randomised controlled trial. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2014, from file:///C:/Users/Amanda/Downloads/exercises reduce deformity (1).pdf
2. Treatment of pain and of the nervous system. (1999, November 30). Retrieved from
3. Association between regulating synaptic membrane exocytosis 2 gene polymorphisms and degenerative lumbar scoliosis. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2014, from file:///C:/Users/Amanda/Downloads/Article 3.pdf
4. Electrical Stimulation for the Treatment of Pain and Muscle Rehabilitation. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2014, from US/Assets/ProviderStaticFiles/ProviderStaticFilesPdf/Tools and Resources/Policies and Protocols/Medical Policies/Medical Policies/Electrical_Stim_Tx_Pain_Muscle_Rehab.pdf