Scoliosis and the Mézières Method: Brief Clinical Insights

Core principle

The Mézières Method aims to reduce the system’s Resistant Force—which contributes to muscular rigidity and joint compression—in favor of Work Force, meaning the muscle's ability to function dynamically through elongation and coordination.

This strategy seeks to rebalance the forces acting on the spine and joints not in a flat, two-dimensional way, but through a three-dimensional perspective.

In contrast, many conventional physiotherapy approaches tend to increase the Resistant Force, which may stabilize the spine but also intensifies compressive pressure on intervertebral discs and joints.

Work Force vs. Resistant Force: an inverse relationship

These two forces behave inversely:

• When Resistant Force increases, dynamic capacity decreases and compression rises.

• When Work Force increases, stiffness is reduced and joint decompression improves.

Two clinical scenarios

1. Scoliosis in the developmental age

In juvenile scoliosis (adolescent or progressive idiopathic), the therapeutic dilemma revolves around strategic prioritization:

• 🟩 Increasing Work Force

  • ✅ Benefit: reduces compressive loads

  • ⚠️ Risk: may unmask the underlying forces driving spinal curvature

• 🟦 Increasing Resistant Force

  • ✅ Benefit: helps stabilize the curve

  • ⚠️ Risk: increases stiffness and disc pressure

🔎 Important note: the decision must always be made by a specialist physician, who can assess the most appropriate strategy for each case.

2. Scoliosis after skeletal maturity

In adults, the unknown causes that triggered scoliosis are no longer active. What we see are the residual structural effects of the condition.

In this case, a physiotherapy program that focuses on enhancing Work Force may:

• improve spinal curvature

• reduce stiffness and compression

• enhance movement quality

Once again, the intervention should be supervised by a medical specialist to ensure clinical safety and appropriateness.

When physiotherapy can impact the curve

An often-overlooked biomechanical parameter is the relationship between lateral deviation and vertebral rotation:

• 🔁 Rotation opposite to the lateral deviation
  → Yes, muscular treatment may positively influence the curve

• ➿ Rotation in the same direction as the deviation
  → No, muscular treatment is not effective in modifying the curve—scoliosis is structurally fixed

Conclusion

The Mézières Method offers a muscle-based, three-dimensional approach to scoliosis. It is particularly useful in adults and, with caution, may be considered in younger individuals. However, medical evaluation remains essential to guide physiotherapy in a safe and effective way.