Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Apr 28;17(4):e83144.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.83144. eCollection 2025 Apr.

The Role of Psoas Muscle in Scoliosis: A Review of the Literature

Zoi Fryda  1 , Kalliroi-Antonia Passadi  2 , Sevina Giannakou  3 , Andriana Vasilakou  4 , Konstantina Pouli  5 , Panagiotis Lepetsos  6 , Christos P Zafeiris  7
Affiliations
Review

The Role of Psoas Muscle in Scoliosis: A Review of the Literature

Zoi Fryda et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Scoliosis, a lateral curvature of the spine, is influenced by various factors, including muscular imbalances. The psoas muscle, due to its anatomical positioning and function, has been hypothesized to influence scoliotic changes. The aim of this review is to evaluate the current evidence on the role of the psoas muscle in scoliosis. A search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for studies published up to July 2024. Keywords used included "psoas" AND "scoliosis". Inclusion criteria were studies that examined the anatomical, physiological, and clinical aspects of the psoas muscle in scoliosis. Systematic reviews, studies in languages other than English language and conference papers were excluded. Studies not specifically addressing the psoas muscle were also excluded. After the application of research methodology, 32 studies remained for analysis. The psoas muscle plays a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of scoliosis through mechanisms involving asymmetrical activity, biomechanical imbalances, neuromuscular factors, and growth and development. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the psoas muscle affects spinal stability, increasing the likelihood of asymmetrical loading and subsequent curvature of the spine. Moreover, it affects the outcome of scoliosis surgery. The transpsoas approach is a novel minimally invasive technique for scoliosis surgery offering reduced tissue damage, quicker recovery, and improved visualization of the disc space. Psoas-related complications of scoliosis surgery, such as psoas weakness or psoas hematoma, exist and cannot be overlooked. Randomized trials are needed to validate psoas-targeted exercises or botulinum toxin injections in the treatment of scoliosis. Future research should focus on elucidating the mechanisms by which the psoas muscle affects scoliosis and exploring comprehensive treatment approaches.

Keywords: csa; curvature; psoas muscle; scoliosis; spine.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Study flowchart
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Classification systems for adolescent and adult scoliosis. Smith JS, Shaffrey CI, Kuntz C 4th, Mummaneni PV. Neurosurgery. 2008;63:16–24. - PubMed
    1. Idiopathic scoliosis. Yaman O, Dalbayrak S. Turk Neurosurg. 2014;24:646–657. - PubMed
    1. Infantile idiopathic scoliosis. Lincoln TL. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18075605/ Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ) 2007;36:586–590. - PubMed
    1. Infantile and juvenile scoliosis. Dobbs MB, Weinstein SL. Orthop Clin North Am. 1999;30:331–341. - PubMed
    1. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Altaf F, Gibson A, Dannawi Z, Noordeen H. BMJ. 2013;346:0. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources