The development of a decision making pathway for the physiotherapy treatment of adult scoliosis

Background The treatment of adults with pain from scoliosis is a complex and difficult task. The variety of structural pathologies with an adult de-novo degenerative conditions, include stenosis, joint subluxation,and disc degeneration. Mechanical pain is often associated with mal-alignment and deviations from the physiological neutral spine posture/ structure. The Side Shift approach has been used at the RNOH to treat Adolescent Scoliosis and Adults in pain. In order to optimize the management of adult scoliosis a decision making pathway was developed. The purpose of the pathway was to inform the clinicians, guide the management and protect the adult patients .Ultimately it was hoped that it would improve patient outcomes.