Live from Dubrovnik — Summarizing the Latest Research in Scoliosis Care

In this special episode of ScoliPod, Dr. Beth and Dr. Laura check in from Dubrovnik, Croatia after spending four days immersed in the latest scoliosis research and clinical insights at the 2025 SOSORT Conference. (Recorded in April 2025)

They break down their biggest takeaways from each day, covering everything from new approaches to adult scoliosis to the evolving understanding of exercise, bracing, and screening.

The main topics covered include:

Adult Scoliosis Research: Updated insights into the three main types of adult scoliosis (de novo, adolescent-onset, and secondary), plus new data showing exercise can improve quality of life and even reduce curves modestly.
Adult Bracing Advances: Exploration of soft and rigid brace designs for adults — a growing area of study focused on pain reduction and posture improvement.
Scoliosis-Specific Exercise (PSSE): A practical session comparing different schools of scoliosis-specific physical therapy and the importance of self-correction and stabilization training.
General vs. Specific Exercise: Research showing that while scoliosis-specific exercise best improves Cobb angles, general fitness still plays a major role in enhancing quality of life for teens.
Surgery and Quality of Life: New findings suggesting that individuals with curves up to 60° can still have excellent quality of life — potentially reshaping when surgery is considered.
Emerging Technology: Advances in telehealth assessments, 3D-printed braces, and low-radiation imaging techniques.
Hypermobility and Scoliosis: How flexibility can actually improve exercise and bracing outcomes when paired with proper stabilization work.
Global Collaboration: The importance of unified screening standards and multidisciplinary teamwork across PTs, orthotists, and surgeons worldwide.

Overall Impression:

Dr. Laura and Dr. Beth enjoyed the conference programming, as always, leaving feeling energized by the progress in conservative scoliosis care and the growing collaboration across professionals from doctors to therapists to orthotists (the professionals who make scoliosis braces). If you are a professional working with scoliosis, they recommend exploring SOSORT membership to stay engaged in the evolving research shaping scoliosis treatment today, as well as make amazing connections with like-minded individuals from around the world.