The NOTOM hypothesis for idiopathic scoliosis: is it nullified by the delayed puberty of female rhythmic gymnasts and ballet dancers with scoliosis?

Nachemson suggested that there are more girls than boys with progressive adolescent idiopathic because of a different timing between skeletal maturation and postural maturation in the sexes during adolescence. We termed Nachemson's concept the neuro-osseous timing of maturation (NOTOM) hypothesis and used it to propose a possible medical treatment for idiopathic scoliosis by delaying puberty through the pituitary using gonadorelin analogues as in idiopathic precocious puberty. The prevalence of scoliosis is reported to be increased in rhythmic gymnasts (RGs) in Bulgaria and in ballet dancers (BDs) in the USA. Both groups exhibit delayed puberty, which, at first sight, nullifies the NOTOM hypothesis for idiopathic scoliosis. While constitutional and environmental factors may determine these scolioses, the different curve types in RGs and BDs suggest that the exercise pattern over many years determines which type of scoliosis develops, although not the curve severity. We support the view that scoliotic RGs should be included in a group of sports-associated scoliosis separate from idiopathic scoliosis. Hence the delayed puberty of RGs and BDs with scoliosis does not nullify the NOTOM hypothesis as their scolioses are not idiopathic. There is a need to focus research on such subjects who have defined constitutional and environmental factors related to their scolioses.