Investigation of Virtual Reality Supported Core Stabilization Exercises and Basic Body Awareness Therapy Activities in Individuals With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the trunk and spine, which can significantly worsen during advanced growth stages. While scoliotic deformities have various causes, approximately 80-90% of all scoliosis cases have an unknown origin and are referred to as idiopathic scoliosis. Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is the most common subtype of idiopathic scoliosis. The primary treatments for AIS include physiotherapy, bracing, and spinal surgery. Several scoliosis-specific exercise programs exist as part of physiotherapy interventions to treat scoliosis, with core stabilization being one of the methods aimed at maintaining spinal alignment.

Virtual reality is an interactive, three-dimensional simulation model created by computers that provides participants with a sense of reality and enables mutual communication. Virtual reality offers a method to create stimulating and engaging environments, using task-oriented techniques to leverage individual interests and motivation. One of the most significant advantages observed in all forms of virtual rehabilitation is its ability to promote interactivity and patient motivation. In the literature, virtual reality applications have been used in healthcare to facilitate recovery, post-illness rehabilitation, and enhance performance in athletes. However, there is limited research on the application of virtual reality therapy for scoliosis patients. One study mentioned the use of two scoliosis-specific exercises through video-assisted games, but the limited exercise repertoire resulted in no significant differences. Other video-assisted studies have suggested that exercises targeting posture, balance, and walking can be utilized for scoliosis patients. Therefore, our study aims to apply core stabilization exercises to scoliosis patients using virtual reality applications and investigate their effects on patient improvement.

While studies examining the effectiveness of core stabilization exercises on body awareness in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis are limited, it has been reported that the basic body awareness therapy is effective in terms of pain, body image, quality of life, and functionality.

Our study aims to contribute to the literature by utilizing the therapeutic effects of both basic body awareness and virtual reality-supported exercises. The research will be conducted at Ruhi Tingiz Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital, affiliated with Amasya University Training and Research Hospital. Participants diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis will be randomly assigned to four groups for the study. All participants' curvature severity and rotation angle, trunk flexibility, trunk normal joint range of motion, spinal pain, Cosmetic Defect Assessment-Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale (The Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale (WRVAS)), Quality of Life Assessment-"Scoliosis Research Society-22" (SRS-22), and Children's Depression Scale (ÇDÖ) will be evaluated before and after treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Body Image; Scoliosis Idiopathic Adolescent
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Body Awareness Therapy Exercise; Other: Home Exercise; Other: Virtual Reality Exercise; Other: Core Stability Exercise

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Ertugrul Deniz Kose, PhDc.; Phone Number: +905056740998; Email: ertugrul.kose@amasya.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Corum, Turkey, 19000
    • Hitit University
    • Contact: Ertugrul Deniz Kose, PhDc; Phone Number: +905056740998; Email: ertugrul.kose@amasya.edu.tr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between the ages of 10 and 18, having a diagnosis of AIS (Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis),
• not using a brace,
• having a Cobb angle between 10º-40º,
• being able to regularly attend the prescribed program,
• not having any pulmonary or thoracic cage-related diseases such as rib fractures, atelectasis, or asthma, not having any neurological or psychiatric disorders, and not having a chronic condition requiring medication, and obtaining parental consent for the child's participation in the program.

Exclusion Criteria:

• The patient should not have any contraindications for exercise,
• should not have received any scoliosis treatment or undergone spinal surgery within the last year,
• should not be using a brace,
• should not have scoliosis limited only to the cervical region,
• should not have any neuromuscular, cardiovascular, or respiratory function disorder, and should not have cognitive impairment.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Body Awareness Therapy Group	Other: Body Awareness Therapy Exercise; Body awareness therapy exercises were applied to the subjects in this group.; Other: Home Exercise; Subjects in this group implemented a home exercise program.
Experimental: Virtual Reality Exercise Group	Other: Home Exercise; Subjects in this group implemented a home exercise program.; Other: Virtual Reality Exercise; Virtual reality exercises were applied to the subjects in this group.
Experimental: Core Stability Exercise Group	Other: Home Exercise; Subjects in this group implemented a home exercise program.; Other: Core Stability Exercise; Core stabilization exercises were applied to the subjects in this group.
Active Comparator: Home Exercise Group	Other: Home Exercise; Subjects in this group implemented a home exercise program.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cobb Angle	Measurements are made to grade scoliosis using the frontal plane radiography using the Cobb method.	Up to 3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale	It is a scale developed to evaluate the physical deformity perceived by patients with scoliosis.	Up to 3 months
Scoliosis Research Society Questionnare	It is a simple and practical quality of life questionnaire created specifically for individuals with scoliosis. It includes parameters of pain, self-image/appearance, function/activity, mental health, and treatment satisfaction.	Change from pre treatment and post treatment.
Spinal Pain Assessment	Visual Analog Scale will be used to evaluate spinal pain.	Up to 3 months
Trunk Muscle Endurance Assessment	Straight plank and side plank tests will be used to evaluate trunk muscle endurance.	Up to 3 months
Trunk Muscle Strength Assessment	"sit-up test" and "modified push-up test" will be used to evaluate trunk flexor and extensor muscle strength.	Up to 3 months
Balance Assessment	Y balance balance test will be used for dynamic balance measurement.	Up to 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hitit University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): November 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 29, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 1, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): November 7, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 7, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 1, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Body Awareness; Scoliosis Idiopathic Adolescent; Virtual Reality Exercise
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Spinal Curvatures; Scoliosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: HititUni

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No