Effects of spinal mobilisation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A randomised controlled trial

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of spinal mobilisation on curvature magnitude, angle of trunk rotation (ATR) and pulmonary function in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods Conducted as a double‐blind randomised controlled trial, the study included 40 patients with AIS (Cobb angles 10°–25°) randomised to experimental (n = 20; female = 12, male = 8; age = 12.9 ± 1.8 mean ± SD) and control (n = 20; female = 13, male = 7; age = 12.85 ± 1.81 mean ± SD) groups. The experimental group received spinal mobilisation for 30 min per session followed by 60 min of core stabilisation exercises (CSE), twice a week for 10 weeks. The control group received CSE only at the same frequency and duration. Evaluation of Cobb angle, ATR and pulmonary function tests (PEF: Peak Expiratory Flow, FEV1: Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s, FVC: Forced Vital Capacity, and FEV1/FVC: Tiffeneau index) were performed at baseline and after the intervention. Results Both groups showed significant improvements in Cobb angle, ATR, PEF and FVC, with the experimental group showing significantly greater improvements in Cobb angle (−7.65 ± 3.17) and ATR (−2.5 ± 1.43) compared to the control group (P