Growing adolescents and teenagers are frequently affected by the disorder known as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), which affects the spine. It is characterized by lateral spinal curvature, which may cause discomfort, spinal abnormalities, and a decreased quality of life. The effectiveness of manual therapy (MT), a frequently utilized method for the management of AIS, has been called into question.

To better demonstrate the effectiveness of MT on AIS, researchers in Israel have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis [doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2018.01.005]. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of MT for the management of patients with AIS that were completed between the creation of the database and July 2022 were included in the study. The Cobb angle, total effective rate, and Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire score were the primary outcome measures used to determine the difference between the experimental and control groups. Several databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, were used to search for the research studies.

Four RCTs involving 213 patients in the experimental group were included by the authors. According to the findings, there were three trials that reported statistically significant differences in the Cobb angle and three trials that reported statistical differences in the total effective rate. SRS-22 scores from three trials were provided, however, there were no statistically significant differences.

Due to the poor quality of the included research, the researchers came to the conclusion that there is not enough information to evaluate if spinal manipulation is beneficial for individuals with AIS. The results suggest that MT may have some beneficial effects on the Cobb angle and overall effective rate, but the low quality of the included trials limits the validity of these findings. Therefore, to find if MT might be useful as an additional therapy for AIS, high-quality trials with a suitable research design and follow-up evaluation are required. There is no proof yet in favor of spinal manipulation for individuals with AIS.