Effect of a 16-Week Physiotherapeutic Corrective Exercise Program on Spinal Deformities in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Enrolling by invitation · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Scoliosis Idiopathic Adolescent

In brief

Brief Summary Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity that may progress during adolescence and lead to postural asymmetry, spinal rotation, pelvic imbalance, reduced spinal mobility, and decreased quality of life. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a 16-week structured physiotherapeutic corrective exercise program compared with standard physiotherapy care in adolescents with mild to moderate AIS (Cobb angle 10°-40°). Participants aged 10-18 years will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group using stratified block randomization based on age and baseline Cobb angle. The study will be conducted under the responsibility of the University of Prishtina- Faculty of Medicine and the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, with academic collaboration from Alma Mater Europaea. The experimental group will receive a structured physiotherapeutic corrective exercise program including core stabilization, stretching, spinal self-correction, and pelvic correction exercises. The control group will receive standard physiotherapy exercises used in routine clinical practice. Both groups will undergo supervised physiotherapy sessions three times per week for 16 weeks, with additional prescribed home exercises. Primary outcomes include individual spinal alignment parameters assessed using the DIERS Formetric 3D/4D system, including lateral deviation angle and vertebral rotation. Secondary outcomes include additional postural alignment parameters, spinal mobility measured using an inclinometer, and health-related quality of life assessed using the Scoliosis Research Society-22 Revised (SRS-22r) questionnaire. Assessments will be performed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks. Each outcome parameter will be analyzed separately to evaluate changes over time and differences between groups. The study will provide evidence on whether a structured corrective physiotherapy program offers superior outcomes compared with standard physiotherapy care in adolescents with AIS.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07736456

Run by

Alma Mater Europaea - Slovenia

People needed

68

Starts

2026-01-12

Expected to finish

2026-08-12

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-30

Who can join

Age: 10 and older, up to 18. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Adolescents aged 10 to 18 years.
• Diagnosis of mild to moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with a Cobb angle between 10° and 40°.
• Referred for physiotherapy treatment at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic.
• Ability to participate in a 16-week exercise program.
• Written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian and assent from the participant.
• Agreement not to receive additional scoliosis-specific treatment during the study period.

You may not qualify if…

• Non-idiopathic scoliosis (congenital, neuromuscular, or syndromic scoliosis).
• Cervicothoracic scoliosis.
• Previous scoliosis surgery.
• Brace treatment during the study period.
• Previous scoliosis-specific physiotherapy during the study period.
• Neurological disorders affecting posture or gait.
• Congenital or structural spinal abnormalities.
• Lower extremity neuromuscular disorders.
• Leg length discrepancy.
• Cardiovascular or respiratory conditions contraindicating exercise.
• Inability to participate in the intervention or complete outcome assessments.

Where it is running

• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) — Pristina, Kosovo, Kosovo

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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