Physiotherapy plays a very important role in Scheuermann’s disease. It is normally the therapy of choice, since surgery is rarely performed in this type of spinal disease. Due to the curvature of the spine caused by the maldevelopment of the vertebrae and the resulting poor posture, the primary goal of physiotherapy is to compensate for the deficits as best as possible.
Therapy
The therapy of Scheuermann’s disease is primarily based on the severity, stage and progress of the disease. Since the cause of Scheuermann’s disease is not known, therapy is always symptomatic with the aim of preventing further progression of the curvature in the early stages and strengthening and stretching the shortened muscles in the late stages in order to straighten the spine. In most cases, the muscles are extremely shortened due to the curvature.
In physiotherapy, special strengthening and stretching exercises are used to counteract this. This leads to considerable improvements in the posture and degree of curvature in patients, especially if therapy is started in the early stages of Scheuermann’s disease. If it is possible to diagnose the disease at an early stage, which is usually the case in children and adolescents, physiotherapy is very likely to have a positive influence on the further course of the disease.
Not infrequently, it is even possible to achieve a standstill in the changes in the vertebral bodies. This prevents the formation/development of wedge vertebrae. This is possible through regular strength training and stretching exercises, which should not only be carried out during physiotherapy sessions, but also at home by those affected.
It is also important to avoid activities that promote the development of vertebral dysfunction, such as sitting in a bent position for long periods or doing little sport. If the affected person has already developed a change in the spine, it can also be treated with stretching exercises, since the muscles in the affected area are shortened due to the permanent incorrect posture. Wearing a corset can also have positive effects on the course of the disease in some cases, provided it is worn regularly and only taken off for personal hygiene. In addition to conservative therapy methods, painful courses of the disease can be treated with parallel medication, whereby painkillers or muscle relaxants are usually prescribed. If the curvature of the spinal column is extremely severe or the conservative therapy does not work even after several attempts, surgery for Scheuermann’s disease can also be considered, although this is very rarely the case.
