Entries by Utenza Editor

Medications and Low Back Pain: an ISICO commentary of a Cochrane review

The Cochrane review “Pharmacological treatments for low back pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews” has recently been published. This extensive and methodologically robust work significantly updates our understanding of the effectiveness—and the limitations—of the medications most commonly used for low back pain: from paracetamol to NSAIDs, as well as muscle relaxants, opioids, antidepressants, and antiepileptics. […]

The Use of Proximal Femur Maturity Index in Guiding Brace Weaning for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Prudence Wing Hang Cheung, Federico Canavese, Janus Siu Him Wong, Keith Dip Kei Luk, Jason Pui Yin Cheung   JB JS Open Access. 2025 Nov 12;10(4):e25.00191. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.25.00191.eCollection 2025 Oct-Dec ABSTRACT Background: For adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, whether the Proximal Femur Maturity Index (PFMI) can guide brace-wear weaning remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PFMI gradings at […]

Chronic Pain: Diet Also Plays a Significant Role

What we eat can influence not only our overall health, but also the way we perceive pain. A recent Australian study has revealed a surprising connection between a balanced diet and the reduction of chronic pain, extending beyond the simple association with obesity. Chronic Pain: A Multidimensional Challenge Chronic pain is a complex condition affecting […]

Long-term stability in PWS scoliosis without surgery

It is rare for a single case to so clearly demonstrate the power of a conservative approach. This is what emerges from the article published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine (Effective Conservative Management of Severe Scoliosis in a Girl with Prader–Willi Syndrome: A 20-Year Case Study Follow-Up, MDPI, 2024). Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder […]

Evaluating the readability and quality of AI-generated scoliosis education materials: a comparative analysis of five language models

Mengchu Zhao, Mi Zhou, Yexi Han, Xiaomei Song, Youbin Zhou, Haoning He  Sci Rep. 2025 Oct 10;15(1):35454. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-19370-3. ABSTRACT The complexity of scoliosis-related terminology and treatment options often hinders patients and caregivers from understanding their choices, making it difficult to make informed decisions. As a result, many patients seek guidance from artificial intelligence (AI) tools. However, AI-generated health content may suffer […]

Utilizing Mobile Health Technology to Enhance Brace Compliance: Feasibility and Effectiveness of an App-Based Monitoring System for Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis

Judith Sánchez-Raya, Judith Salat-Batlle, Diana Castilla, Irene Zaragozá, Azucena García-Palacios, Carlos Suso-Ribera  Pers Med. 2025 Sep 1;15(9):405.doi: 10.3390/jpm15090405 ABSTRACT Background/Objectives: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) often requires prolonged brace use to prevent curve progression. However, adherence is challenging due to discomfort, mobility restrictions, and psychosocial stressors. This study evaluated the feasibility and clinical utility of a mobile health (mHealth) system for real-time […]

Scoliosis in children and teenagers: could dental problems be the cause?

During a patient’s first medical visit, the parents were concerned after taking their twelve-year-old daughter to the dentist. During the dental check-up, a problem of malocclusion and swallowing emerged. The dentist suggested that this combination of factors might have contributed to the development of scoliosis.But is it really possible that a problem in the mouth […]

Back to school with a brace

Going back to school is not always easy for adolescents with scoliosis who wear a brace.—-> with scoliosis, and who need to wear a braceSome are able to talk about it and share their difficulties, while others keep everything inside — and often they are the ones who suffer the most. Of course, not all of our adolescent patients will […]

ISICO Online Master 2026: let’s start

Registrations for the 11th edition of the ISICO Online Master “Principles and Practice of Scoliosis Conservative Treatment – PPSCT” will open on October 15th, 2025. The course will start in January 2026. This training program has now become a well-established part of ISICO’s educational offer, alongside the Italian Master, the SEAS courses, and the course on Sforzesco brace construction. […]

From therapy to dance: ISICO patients perform at AIFI

Two young ISICO patients made the recent AIFI event truly special, held on 13 September in Pavia, in the Aula Magna of ICS Maugeri. The meeting, “Connected Bodies: the Physiotherapy of the Future between Human Relationships, Identity and Digital Innovation”, featured not only contributions from professionals and lecturers, but also the performance of Chiara and Silvia, […]