Muscle energy techniques versus myofascial release on scoliosis in adolescent girls: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a complicated 3D structural spine condition occurring in children aged 10 to skeletal maturity. The study aimed to examine the impact of muscle energy technique and/or myofascial release on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis for large sample. Also, it aimed to compare the muscle energy techniques versus myofascial release on idiopathic scoliosis. Methods. A total of 50 girls with idiopathic non-bony structural scoliosis of the thoracic spine were included in this trial. They were randomly divided into two equal-sized (n = 25 for each group). For three months, group A (Muscle energy technique Group), which received Scientific Exercises Approach to Scoliosis exercises in addition to Muscle energy technique; and group B (Myofascial release Group), which received the same Scientific Exercises Approach to Scoliosis exercises conducted to group A in addition to myofascial release. The primary outcome was a standing radiological evaluation of coronal Cobb´s angle. Results. According to this study's findings, a highly significant difference was discovered in the mean values of Cobb´s angle between pre and post-treatment in muscle energy technique group. When the mean values of Cobb´s angle was compared before and after treatment for myofascial release group, it was reveals a significant change. Conclusions. After treatment for three months, both groups improved significantly, with muscle energy technique group outperforming the myofascial release group by a large margin. So, muscle energy technique was more effective than myofascial release in reducing the abnormal thoracic curvature in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Trial registration. The study was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov under the identifier NCT05120089.