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Every year, some of the Scoliosis SOS team, have the privilege to attend the annual SOSORT (Society On Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment) conference. SOSORT was the first organisation of its kind to gather together experts from around the world, dedicated to the conservative management of scoliosis and other structural changes of the spine. The SOSORT committee and its members have the shared goal of improving research and enhancing the effectiveness of treatment for those affected by scoliosis and other structural spinal conditions.
When Was the Conference & Who Attended from the Clinic?
From 23rd to 26th April 2025, 3 team members from Scoliosis SOS, Erika Maude (Clinic Principal), Danielle Clark (Practice Manager) and Chrissy Pilcher (Team Lead and Senior Physiotherapist) travelled alongside Sam George and Jan van Dyke (medical students from St Georges University), to SOSORT 2025, in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Here, the SOSORT President, Sabrina Donzelli, welcomed a record number of around 400 delegates, from 6 different continents, to share their research and latest developments relating to the diagnosis and conservative treatment of scoliosis and other spinal conditions.
Summary of the Conference
This year’s guest speaker was Dr Kairman Abelin-Genevois, head of the orthopaedic Department and the scientific chief officer at the Medico Surgical Centre of Les Massues – French Red Cross, Lyon (France). Her research interests are mainly directed towards Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), sagittal balance of the spine and gait/balance analysis in spinal disorders in children. She is also an active member of the French Spine Society and Scoliosis Research Society. In her talk, Dr Kairman gave a brilliant insight into why sagittal balance is important, what is normal sagittal balance and how scoliosis (even mild cases) show disturbance in sagittal balance.
On the Friday, some of the SOSORT founders and current committee members, gave a wonderful summary of SOSORT’s beginnings, achievements and future directions, to celebrate 20 years of SOSORT. Dr Manuel Rigo, who was Erikas’s doctor when she underwent conservative treatment in Spain for her scoliosis back in 2002, started with ‘How it all began’. Stefano Negrini followed, focusing on the progress of SOSORT to date. Eric Parent, recognised some of the key research contributions SOSORT has made, such as the BrAIST study and the SOSORT guidelines. Sabrina Donzelli gave a summary of where SOSORT is today, and Suncica Bulat Wurching, the President elect, closed with ‘where should SOSORT go from here?’.
There was a record number of 235 abstract submissions to SOSORT 2025 of which 81 were presented. Many interesting topics were discussed, including current developments in the use of ultrasound and computer software systems for diagnosing and monitoring scoliosis, and the variance in trunk muscle endurance and composition between those with and without scoliosis.
What Research did the Clinic’s Team Present at SOSORT this Year?
Scoliosis SOS had the pleasure of presenting 3 research abstracts (representing 3.7% of those accepted for presentation), on the topics of quality-of-life outcome measures in scoliosis, and the influence of Physiotherapy Scoliosis Specific Exercise (PSSE) on chest wall expansion, lung function and angle of trunk rotation (ATR). We are already in the process of data collection for our next research projects and will be looking forward to attending SOSORT 2026, held in Turin.
Thank you SOSORT 2025, you were amazing!
Find out more about the research we have presented at previous conferences.
