Effect of core-based exercise in people with scoliosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The overall quality of evidence was rated very low to low by GRADE, meaning future research is very likely to change these estimates. There was high statistical heterogeneity between studies, so the results are not consistent across the different trials. Only two of the seven randomized trials blinded the outcome assessors, which increases the risk that the observed benefits were influenced by expectations. Most included studies were single-center and had short follow-up periods, so long-term effects are unknown. There was a high risk of publication bias suggested by the funnel plot for the primary outcome.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and other regional health commissions.

Do not interpret the small reduction in Cobb angle as proof that core exercise reverses scoliosis. The evidence is very low quality, highly inconsistent between studies, and the reduction was not clinically large enough to be confident it matters for the patient's long-term structure or pain.