• Burçin Akçay and Gonca İnanç.
• Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, Bandırma, Turkey. bakcay@bandirma.edu.tr.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2024 Jun 1; 193 (3): 147914861479-1486.

BackgroundAdolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients have been found to exhibit cortical asymmetry. Although asymmetries in cortical structures have been found in patients with AIS, there has been no research on how conservative treatments affect cerebellar functional organization.AimsThis study aimed to examine the impact of conservative treatments on perceptual and cognitive asymmetry in the auditory system assessed by dichotic listening in AIS patients with thoracic major curves.MethodThis study involved 30 AIS patients and 21 healthy subjects. The intervention group used a Cheneau brace and performed 18 Schroth Best Practice (SBP) exercise sessions. Auditory lateralization was assessed using the Dichotic Listening Paradigm (DLP) in both groups before and after the intervention.ResultsThe 6-week intervention resulted in a significant increase in left ear responses in the force-left condition in the AIS (p < 0.05). Left ear responses were lower in AIS at baseline (p < 0.05). The results at week 6 were similar in all conditions (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe results of this study demonstrated that SBP exercises and Cheneau brace treatment can improve perceptual and cognitive asymmetry in the auditory system in AIS patients with thoracic major curve. Scoliosis-associated changes in the spine and postural control may affect auditory perception by causing adaptations in sensory and motor networks. Future studies are needed to examine the connectivity in brain regions related to motor control and auditory processing after conservative treatment.Trial RegistrationClinical trials number: NCT06141759.© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.

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