Application of extracorporeal shockwaves in the treatment of scoliosis: a case report

[Purpose] In a pilot investigation, extracorporeal shockwave therapy was applied to patients with idiopathic scoliosis. This case report aimed to describe the effects of repeated extracorporeal shockwave therapy on the clinical signs of a patient with scoliosis due to a functional tethered cord syndrome. [Subject and Methods] In June 2016, a 13-year-old girl presented with a left thoracic curvature. Radiograph showed a left thoracic curve of 24°. An angle of trunk rotation of 21° was measured using a scoliometer. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy was proposed to support conservative treatment. Five sessions of extracorporeal shockwave therapy were applied. Finger-floor distance and the angle of trunk rotation before and after each application of extracorporeal shockwave therapy were measured. [Results] The average finger-floor distances before and after extracorporeal shockwave therapy were 22.6 cm and 15.6 cm, respectively. The average angles of trunk rotation before and after the therapy were 13° and 10.2°, respectively. [Conclusion] The short-term effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy was revealed in this study. The neural structures that inhibited free mobility of the spine were mobilized. Furthermore, deformity was reduced by applying extracorporeal shockwave therapy.