1312 patients with idiopathic scoliosis completed the ScolioGold Body Image Questionnaire (SBIQ) before and after a course of intensive PSSE treatment. A paired T-test compared the patient's perception of Body image. Mean age was 24.7 with a range of 6 to 83 years old (<18 = 687; >18 = 625), female = 1061, male = 251).

Pre-treatment average was 5.3 (SD=2.07), which improved to 2.8 after treatment (SD=1.8). The difference of 2.6 was statistically significant (p<0.005). Pre-treatment, the patients in the children group scored 4.67, which was significantly lower than the adult group score of 6.32. On average, the children improved their scores by 2.48 to 2.19 which was statistically significant (p=0.000). The adults improved their scores by 2.81 to 3.51 which was statistically significant (p=0.000). On average patients with mild (11° to 25° Cobb angles) and moderate (26° to 50° Cobb angles) curvatures achieved a larger improvement compared to patients with severe curvatures (>50° Cobb angles). This difference of 0.35 was statistically significant (n=641, p<0.05).

There were significant improvements in the total SBIQ scores before and after treatment in both the child and adult groups with mild to severe curvatures after an intensive course of PSSE treatment. This shows that intensive PSSE treatment can improve scoliotic patients' self-image, therefore addressing aspects of their psychosocial well-being.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) patients were subjected to four weeks of Physiotherapy Scoliosis Specific Exercise (PSSE). 124 (Exclusion = 3) Patients were enrolled and assigned to either complete their treatment in one 4-week bout (4WC) (63 patients, M_age = 14.52), or to complete their treatment in two separate fortnightly bouts (2X2WC) (63 patients, M_age = 14.26). Clinical exam, surface topography and Scoliometer readings were compared. The SRS-30 questionnaire before and after treatment was conducted at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.

Group 1 (4WC) showed significant improvements from baseline (Pre-3.73 – Post 3.9; p=0.026) after the course of treatment, and showed significant improvements at 12 months follow up in Mental Health (p=0.006), Aggregate score (p= 0.005) and Satisfaction score (p=0.011). Satisfaction score remained statistically significant at 18 months follow up (p=0.016). Group 2 (2X2WC) did not record a significant improvement from baseline (p=0.058); however, showed significant improvements in self-image (p=0.013). There was no statically significant difference in SRS scores with respect to follow up time.

We conclude that Physiotherapy Scoliosis Specific Exercise (PSSE) is a successful non-invasive therapy for AIS. The modified Schroth technique (ScolioGold) shows significant improvement in SRS30 scores with the 4-week intensive course that are sustained at a 2 year follow up.