Side Plank Pose Exercises for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients

Fishman et al. reported that side plank poses asymmetrically strengthened the convex side of the curve and decreased primary Cobb angle by 49% among compliant patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

AIS patients with curves of 10° to 45° were randomized into the front plank (control) or side plank group. The side plank was performed with their curve convex down. A weekly survey monitored compliance, defined by completing poses 4 or more times a week.

A total of 64 patients were enrolled; 34% (22 of 64) of patients (mean age = 13 years) were compliant. In the control group, there were 11 compliant patients with 6 undergoing brace treatment. At enrollment, they had a mean Cobb angle of 30° (range: 14°-40°) and mean scoliometer reading of 13°. At 6 months, they had a mean Cobb angle of 30° (range: 14°-42°) and mean scoliometer of 12°. In the side plank group, there were 11 compliant patients with 5 undergoing brace treatment. At enrollment, they had a mean Cobb angle of 32° (range: 21°-44°) and mean scoliometer reading of 12°. At 6 months, they had a mean Cobb angle of 31° (range: 17°-48°) and a mean scoliometer reading of 13°. There were no significant changes in either the control or side plank group in regards to primary Cobb angle (control: P = .53, side plank: P = .67) or scoliometer (control: P = .22, side plank: P = .45).

There were no significant changes in primary Cobb angle or scoliometer after 6 months of side plank exercises. In contrast to a prior study, there was no improvement in curve magnitude in AIS patients performing side plank exercises.