Impact of scoliosis-specific exercises in moderate to severe thoracolumbar curves in three postmenopausal women.

The paper describes only three postmenopausal women, so it cannot show what scoliosis-specific exercises do for other patients. The paper describes cases rather than comparing groups, so it does not test scoliosis-specific exercises against another treatment. The authors note that Case 1 was the youngest of the three women and likely had better muscle strength and lumbar spine stability. The frequency of performing scoliosis-specific exercises was based on patient memory recall. Cases 2 and 3 performed scoliosis-specific exercises haphazardly, so outcomes cannot be related to the exercises. Other treatments were given alongside scoliosis-specific exercises, including dry needling, shockwave therapy, manipulation, MedX exercises, and Effexor, so the contribution of the exercises alone cannot be separated. Coronal balance and sagittal radiological parameters were not compared because all past full-spine radiographs were not available. Case 3's Cobb angle at age 20 was based on memory recall, so the progression slope is uncertain. Case 2 was lost to follow-up for seven years. The cases differed in bone mineral density, and the paper does not clarify whether this affected symptoms or curve changes.

The authors reported no funding and no conflicts of interest.

Do not read these cases as proof that scoliosis-specific exercises prevent curve progression or relieve pain in postmenopausal women. The three women had different adherence, received other treatments, and the paper had no control group.