Diário da Espinha

Does a Digital Care Program for Adult Scoliosis Improve Outcomes? A Pilot Study

Abstract

Matthew S. Rohde*, Christopher Q. Lin, Christopher Jin, Marsalis Brown, John B. Michaud, Karena Thek, Muhammad Abd-El-Barr and Stacey J. Ackerman

Background: Adult Scoliosis (AS) affects an estimated 51 million adults in the United States, approximately half of whom have related back pain. Nonoperative therapy is first-line treatment, but has been shown to provide minimal benefit. The National Scoliosis Clinic’s (NSC) Scoliosis Realignment Therapy (SRT) is a personalized scoliosis-specific exercise program delivered remotely through a computer or mobile device. A pilot study was conducted to assess pain and functional outcomes associated with SRT.

Methods: NSC members were enrolled from April 1, 2024 to May 31, 2024. Participants reported their pain and health-related outcomes at baseline and 6 weeks using the Scoliosis Research Society Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (SRS-22r) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Data were analyzed using a linear mixed-model approach.

Results: Twenty-three users completed the six-week survey. The majority (22/23) were female and the mean age was 65 years. There was no statistical difference in baseline Total SRS-22r score or ODI between study participants who completed the 6-week surveys and those who were lost to follow up. Following six weeks of SRT, significant improvement in the Pain (P<0.001), Self-Image (P=0.05), and Mental Health (P<0.001) subdomains of the SRS-22r, and Total SRS-22r scoring (P<0.001) was observed. The improvement in the Pain subdomain exceeded the minimal clinically important difference threshold.

Conclusion: The SRT remote digital program offers a nonoperative approach to improving outcomes and holds promise for transforming the current adult scoliosis care paradigm.