Effectiveness of exercise interventions for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: An umbrella review.

BACKGROUND

As nonsurgical alternatives, exercise interventions have been widely investigated for the prevention and management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

PURPOSE: To systematically review the evidence from existing systematic reviews regarding the effects of exercise interventions on AIS.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in Scopus, EBSCOHost, PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The search period included studies published between January 2015 and November 2025. Two reviewers independently conducted data extraction and assessed methodological quality using the AMSTAR 2 checklist. This review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251179072).

RESULTS

A total of 14 studies were ultimately included, originating from Spain, China, India, Japan, and the United Kingdom (n = 30,098). Reported health outcomes included improvements in posture and spinal curvature angles, enhanced physical function, and better quality of life among patients. The effects of interventions indicated that moderate-intensity exercise, daily exercise duration exceeding three hours, and outdoor physical activities were associated with significant therapeutic benefits. Among the various programs, integrated therapeutic strategy demonstrated the most favorable overall outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Exercise is an effective intervention that plays a positive role in the prevention and treatment of AIS.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Exercise interventions can effectively enhance pediatric nursing care, and their integration into routine clinical practice may offer patients with AIS a more positive healthcare experience.