Traditional Chinese Medicine for the prevention and treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: scientific understanding and a multimodal therapeutic approach

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a common spinal disorder characterized by deviations in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes. As AIS progresses with age, it compromises biomechanical function and increasingly impacts pulmonary function and psychological well-being. Bracing and Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE) are commonly used conservative treatments for AIS. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been gaining increasing attention in conservative AIS management. This study examines the effectiveness of TCM and its integrative therapies in AIS treatment, with particular emphasis on the foundational TCM concept of “preventive treatment of disease”. A three-level prevention strategy is proposed, highlighting the importance of early detection, timely treatment, and proactive intervention. This framework aims to promote a scientific understanding of TCM approaches and their synergistic use with other therapies in AIS management, offering new perspectives and potential directions for future.