BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT OF SCOLIOSIS AND KYPHOSIS

A behavioral treatment of scoliosis and kyphosis was tested with 27 ad olescent patients (19 scoliosis, eight kyphosis patients) to determine in which cases the conspicuous and restraining brace treatment could be replaced. In 22 compliant patients, posture biofeedback (PB) was hi ghly effective compared to five non-compliant patients. Biologically m ore mature scoliosis patients (menarche at the beginning of treatment) seemed to profit more from PB. With kyphosis patients the PB treatmen t resulted in rapid straightening of the spine and removal of structur al deformities of Scheuermann's disease. PB may serve as an unobtrusiv e yet effective treatment alternative for both juvenile scoliosis and kyphosis.