Physiotherapy and Whole-Body Vibration in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Impact of Specific Physiotherapy and Whole-Body Vibration on Spinal Parameters in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

The aim of this study is to assess how physiotherapy based on the Rigo Concept, combined with WBV, affects sagittal spinal curvatures, the angle of trunk rotation (ATR), and trunk symmetry in girls with AIS.

Participants undergo a 5-day individualized physiotherapy program. The exercises follow the four general principles of the Rigo Concept: three-dimensional postural correction, expansion technique, muscle activation, and integration. Therapy is delivered for 3 hours per day, with three 15-minute breaks. Additionally, participants in the Rigo Concept with WBV group perform exercises in a standing position using two poles while exposed to WBV on a Galileo Med 35 platform (Novotec Medical GmbH, Pforzheim, Germany) at a frequency of 25 Hz, with a peak-to-peak displacement of 2 mm. Each session includes three 3-minute bouts of vibration, with 3-minute rests between them. During WBV, participants perform exercises according to the principles of the Rigo Concept.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Scoliosis Idiopathic Adolescent Treatment; Whole-body Vibration
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Rigo Concept group; Procedure: Rigo Concept with whole-body vibration group

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Gdansk, Poland
    • Korrektiv

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
• Written consent of a medical doctor for participation
• Female

Exclusion Criteria:

• thrombosis
• body implants
• musculoskeletal inflammation
• arthropathy
• tendonitis
• hernia
• disc herniation
• recent fractures
• kidney stones
• recent scars
• surgery
• rheumatoid arthritis
• neuropathy
• epilepsy
• previous spinal surgery
• injuries in the spine during the past six months
• injuries in the lower limbs during the past six months
• pain in the spine during the past six months
• pain in the lower limbs during the past six months
• for group with WBV additionally discomfort or felt unwell during vibration exposure

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Rigo Concept group; Physiotherapy/exercieses according to the Rigo Concept, 5 days, 3 hour per day	Procedure: Rigo Concept group; 5-day physiotherapy based on the Rigo Concept. It has four general principles of correction such as three-dimensional stable postural correction, expansion technique, muscle activation, and integration. Intervention last for 3 hours per day.
Experimental: Rigo Concept with whole-body vibration group; Physiotherapy/exercises according to the Rigo Concept combined with whole-body vibration, 5 days, 3 hour per day, supplemented with 3 x 3 minutes of WBV, frequency 25 Hz, amplitude 2 mm	Procedure: Rigo Concept with whole-body vibration group; The same like in the Rigo Concept groupa and additionally in standing position with two poles from Rigo Concept they will be exposed to WBV on a Galileo Med25 platform. WBV will administer in 3 x 3-minute sessions per day at a frequency of 25 Hz and an amplitude of 2 mm.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measurements of the sagittal curvature of the spine	The examination of spinal curvatures (degrees) in the sagittal plane is conducted using a Baseline digital inclinometer (MVS in Motion, Belgium). Measurements are taken in a relaxed standing position. The assessment includes evaluation of thoracic kyphosis (upper and lower parts), lumbar lordosis, and sacral slope. The procedure is as follows: 1) Thoracic kyphosis - the inclinometer is zeroed at the thoracolumbar junction (Th12-L1), and the value is recorded at the cervicothoracic junction (C7-Th1); 2) Lumbar lordosis - the inclinometer is zeroed at the lumbosacral junction (L5-S1), and the value is recorded at the thoracolumbar junction (Th12-L1); 3) Sacral slope - the inclinometer is zeroed in the horizontal position, and the value is recorded at the lumbosacral junction (L5-S1).	Before the first physiotherapy session and three hours after the last physiotherapy session
Measurements of the trunk symmetry	For postural alignment (centimeters), the physician positions a plumb line at the level of the occipital prominence. Measurements are performed using a rigid millimeter ruler and are rounded to the nearest 0 or 5 mm, assessing the distance from the plumb line to the gluteal cleft. For the assessment of scapular height asymmetry, the inferior angles of the scapulae are marked bilaterally. A rigid ruler is placed across these points, and a scoliometer is positioned on the ruler to record the angle of inclination (degrees). The distances from the inferior angles of the scapulae to the line of spinous processes are measured on both the left and right sides using a rigid ruler, and the differences (centimeters) are then calculated.	Before the first physiotherapy session and three hours after the last physiotherapy session
Measurements of the angle of trunk rotation	The measurements of the angle of trunk rotation in the transverse plane are conducted using a Baseline scoliometer (MoVeS, Poland). The angle of trunk rotation is assessed during the Adams forward bend test. The participant stands in a relaxed upright position and is instructed to keep their hands together and slowly bend forward, aiming their hands toward the center of support. The examiner records the angle (degrees) and direction (left/right) of trunk rotation at the proximal and main thoracic spine, thoracolumbar region, lumbar spine, and at the level of the posterior superior iliac spine.	Before the first physiotherapy session and three hours after the last physiotherapy session

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport
• Investigators: Study Chair: Paulina Ewertowska, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): February 25, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 17, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 2, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 16, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 5, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 3, 2026
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: AWFiS/2025_11_PE

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