Scoliosis in children and teens: bracing and physical therapy, per NIAMS
NIAMS lists observation, bracing, surgery, and physical therapy among scoliosis treatments for children and teens, and names physical therapists among the providers who treat it. This page quotes NIAMS only.
Quoted from official pages checked November 12, 2026. Confirm current information on those sites. This page is not medical advice and does not describe any patient’s care.
Sources read on November 12, 2026: NIAMS’s Scoliosis in Children and Teens overview and its diagnosis and treatment page (last reviewed July 2023).
What it is
NIAMS states: “Scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine.”
Treatment
- Bracing: “The goal of wearing a brace is to slow or stop the curves in the spine from increasing.”
- Physical therapy: “The doctor may recommend physical therapy to help strengthen muscles.”
Among the providers who may treat scoliosis, NIAMS lists “Physical therapists, who teach ways to build muscle strength.”
Living with scoliosis
NIAMS states: “Exercise programs have not been well studied but may keep scoliosis from getting worse. Regular exercise helps your child or teen remain physically fit and strengthen muscle.”
The NIAMS pages read do not name occupational therapy.
What this page does not do
It does not repeat NIAMS’s surgery descriptions or brace-wearing details. It is not medical advice and does not recommend any treatment, medicine, device, or product. Scope of practice is set by state law; check your state board.