Preliminary assessment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis prevalence and physiotherapeutic scoliosis specific exercises workforce needs in accessible areas of conflict-affected Syria

This study presents the first local epidemiological data on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in conflict-affected Syria, addressing a critical lack of information. Screening 2,847 adolescents (mean age 14.0 ± 2.6 years; 59.9% female) across eight accessible governorates, the research identified a point prevalence of 2.49% (95% CI: 1.95%–3.14%), with a female-to-male ratio of 3.7:1. A significant 90.1% of confirmed cases exhibited mild to moderate curves (Cobb angle 10–39°), indicating suitability for Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE) as per SOSORT guidelines.
An exploratory workforce model, applied to the surveyed accessible areas, projected a need for approximately 240 PSSE specialists under current constraints, rising to about 350 in a moderately optimistic scenario. While these projections are speculative due to the non-representative sample, they serve as a crucial initial benchmark. The study emphasizes that these findings are not for direct policy formulation but rather a compelling rationale for urgent, methodologically rigorous, and nationally representative epidemiological research. It highlights the theoretical demand for PSSE services and the imperative for context-adapted implementation frameworks in similar conflict-affected settings.