Can Chiropractic Fix Scoliosis?

Can chiropractic fix scoliosis? The short answer is no—a chiropractic adjustment by itself has not been shown to correct scoliosis. Research examining spinal manipulation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has found insufficient evidence that adjustments alone can meaningfully reduce the curve or stop its progression.[1]

But chiropractors are not limited to adjustments.

There is an entire area of scoliosis-specific chiropractic and rehabilitation that includes ScoliBalance exercises, corrective rehabilitation, and customized ScoliBrace bracing. These approaches have considerably more research behind them, particularly for children and adolescents who are still growing.[2-4]

Adjusting Scoliosis Is Not the Same as Correcting It

Scoliosis is not simply a bone that is “out of place.” It is a three-dimensional spinal deformity involving sideways curvature, rotation of the vertebrae, and changes in the rib cage and posture.

An adjustment may help improve stiffness, mobility, or discomfort in certain patients, but there is currently no good evidence that simply adjusting the spine will permanently straighten a structural scoliosis.[1]

That is why scoliosis-specific treatment needs to go beyond adjustments.

What Are ScoliBalance Exercises?

ScoliBalance is a physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercise program, often referred to as PSSE. Exercises are customized to the patient’s individual curve rather than simply prescribing generic core strengthening.

Treatment may include:

• Active postural correction
• Spinal elongation
• Rotational correction
• Corrective breathing
• Asymmetrical strengthening
• Training the patient to maintain a corrected position during everyday activities

Research has shown that scoliosis-specific exercise programs can improve spinal deformity, posture, function, and quality of life in adolescents with scoliosis.[2,3]

Not All Scoliosis Braces Work the Same Way

This is an important distinction.

Many traditional scoliosis braces are primarily intended to prevent the curve from becoming worse while a child grows. That alone can be extremely valuable, and high-quality research has shown that bracing significantly reduces the risk of scoliosis progressing toward the surgical range.[4]

ScoliBrace takes a somewhat different approach.

ScoliBrace is a customized three-dimensional brace designed using an over-corrective strategy. Rather than simply holding the patient in their current position, the brace attempts to move the trunk toward the opposite direction of the scoliosis within the limits of the patient’s flexibility.

The goal is not only to stop progression but, when possible, to achieve actual improvement in the curve.

A 2024 prospective study of adolescents treated with ScoliBrace found that 57.1% achieved at least a 5-degree reduction in their Cobb angle by skeletal maturity. The researchers also found that greater brace wear was associated with better outcomes.[6]

That is particularly important in adolescents because the spine is still growing and therefore has a much greater opportunity for structural change.

“Won’t Wearing a Brace Make the Back Muscles Weak?”

This is one of the most common concerns parents have about scoliosis bracing.

The theory makes sense: if a brace is supporting the spine, won’t the muscles become lazy?

Fortunately, research using the combination of ScoliBrace and ScoliBalance exercises does not support that concern.

A 2024 study examined trunk muscle endurance in adolescents undergoing ScoliBrace and ScoliBalance treatment. Rather than finding weakening, researchers found that trunk extensor muscle endurance significantly improved during treatment, while abdominal endurance also improved in the earlier stages of care.[7]

This is one reason we do not view bracing and exercise as competing treatments. Ideally, they work together: the brace provides external corrective forces while ScoliBalance teaches the patient how to actively control and strengthen their corrected posture.

Can Scoliosis Improve in Adolescence?

Yes, in some adolescents it can.

Bracing and scoliosis-specific exercises have both demonstrated the ability to improve outcomes in growing patients.[2-4,6]

However, every case is different. Treatment depends heavily on:

• Cobb angle
• Age
• Skeletal maturity
• Amount of growth remaining
• Curve pattern
• Rate of progression

This is why early detection is so important. The more growth a child has remaining, the greater the opportunity we may have to influence the scoliosis before skeletal maturity.

What About Adults With Scoliosis?

Adults are different because their skeleton is no longer growing.

For most adults, we are not promising to completely straighten a long-standing scoliosis. Instead, treatment focuses on reducing pain, improving posture and mobility, increasing strength, and improving daily function.

Research involving adults with idiopathic scoliosis has found that scoliosis-specific rehabilitation can produce greater improvements in pain, disability, and quality of life than general rehabilitation alone.[5]

Specialized Scoliosis Care in Northern Colorado

Scoliosis management requires additional training beyond a typical chiropractic education.

At Square One Health in Fort Collins, I have completed advanced training in scoliosis management and am an Advanced Certified ScoliBrace Provider and Advanced ScoliBalance Provider. I am also the only actively treating advanced ScoliBrace provider in Northern Colorado.

That means scoliosis patients at our office are not simply receiving chiropractic adjustments. We evaluate the actual curve pattern, skeletal maturity, progression risk, posture, function, and symptoms to determine what type of conservative treatment makes the most sense.

Depending on the patient, that may include ScoliBalance exercises, ScoliBrace, chiropractic care, corrective rehabilitation, or continued monitoring.

So, Can Chiropractic Fix Scoliosis?

Adjustments alone have not been shown to correct scoliosis—but specialized scoliosis care can go far beyond an adjustment.

For growing adolescents, scoliosis-specific exercise and corrective bracing may help stop progression and, in some patients, measurably improve the curve.

For adults, treatment is generally focused on reducing pain, improving movement, strengthening the body, and improving quality of life.

If you or your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis, come to Square One Health for a scoliosis evaluation. We can measure the curve, evaluate growth and progression risk, and determine whether scoliosis-specific exercises, corrective bracing, or another approach is appropriate.

The earlier we identify a progressive scoliosis, the more options we may have to do something about it.

References

1. Théroux J, Stomski N, Losco CD, et al. Spinal manipulative therapy for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2017;40(6):452-458. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.03.009.
2. Monticone M, Ambrosini E, Cazzaniga D, et al. Active self-correction and task-oriented exercises reduce spinal deformity and improve quality of life in subjects with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: results of a randomized controlled trial. Eur Spine J. 2014;23(6):1204-1214.
3. Kuru T, Yeldan İ, Dereli EE, et al. The efficacy of three-dimensional Schroth exercises in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Clin Rehabil. 2016;30(2):181-190.
4. Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Wright JG, Dobbs MB. Effects of bracing in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. N Engl J Med. 2013;369(16):1512-1521. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1307337.
5. Monticone M, Ambrosini E, Cazzaniga D, et al. Adults with idiopathic scoliosis improve disability after motor and cognitive rehabilitation: results of a randomised controlled trial. Eur Spine J. 2016;25(10):3120-3129.
6. Lim KBL, Mak HKW, Abdul Rahaman SH, Ong LL, Ooi SYJ, Lee NKL. A pilot study on the “ScoliBrace” in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2024. doi:10.1007/s00590-024-03845-6.
7. Marchese R, du Plessis J, Pooke T, McAviney J. The improvement of trunk muscle endurance in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis treated with ScoliBrace and the ScoliBalance exercise approach. J Clin Med. 2024;13(3):653.