Effects of specific physiotherapeutic exercises in a patient with a severe neuromuscular scoliosis with rigid spine syndrome: a case report

Methods A 16-year-old male patient diagnosed with severe NMS with RSS underwent to a posterior spinal fusion from T5 to L1 at 10 years-old. Surgery reduced the Cobb’s angle at the main thoracic, lumbar and the cervical curvature to half. Nonetheless, post-surgery complications appeared: the cervical curvature increased, positive sagittal balance appeared, hyperextension of the neck and head, flat back and kyphosis posture was developed. On October 2013 the patient started a program with specific exercises for scoliosis 2-3 times a week, based on rotational breathing principles from the Schroth method, Pilate’s exercises and physical therapy lumbopelvic stabilization exercises following the standard features of scoliosis rehabilitation schools. Results Radiographies and documented pictures were taken at the beginning and at the sixth week of treatment. A comparison of these images shows an improvement in the flat back condition where the lumbar lordosis angle increased and positive sagittal balance was normalized. Currently, the patient is able to maintain this new posture by his own, however, he usually tends to fall into the misalignments postural vicious.