Supervised vs. Home Schroth Exercise in AIS

Comparative Effectiveness of Supervised vs. Home-Based Schroth Exercises in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of supervised Schroth exercises versus a home-based exercise program in adolescents with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS).

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Supervised Schroth Exercise; Other: Home-Based Schroth Exercise

Detailed Description

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity that develops in children aged 10-18, affecting approximately 0.47% to 12% of this population. If left untreated, curves between 10° and 45° may progress, leading to pain, breathing difficulties, postural problems, and reduced quality of life. Although bracing and surgery are traditional options, they have limitations. Physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE), particularly the Schroth method, are increasingly recommended as a first-line conservative treatment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 62
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Mesut Arslan, PhD; Phone Number: +90 553 674 5226; Email: fzt.mesutarslan@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul
    • Siliviri, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34570
      • Silivri Devlet Hastanesi, Fizik Tedavi Ünitesi
      • Contact: Mehmet Emin Durbulu; Phone Number: +90 506 146 4064; Email: fztmehmetdurbulu@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (idiopathic etiology)
• Age between 10 and 18 years
• Cobb angle between 10° and 45°
• Able to participate in a 5-day/week exercise program (supervised or home-based)
• Patient and parent/guardian provide written informed consent
• Sufficient cooperation to comply with the study protocol and complete assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-idiopathic scoliosis (neuromuscular, congenital, functional, etc.)
• Prior or planned spinal surgery
• Neurological, rheumatological, metabolic, or cardiopulmonary disease that would interfere with participation
• Brace treatment within the last 6 months or planned during the study
• Regular scoliosis-specific exercise (more than 2 days/week) within the last 6 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Supervised Schroth Exercise Group (SSEG); Participants in this group will receive the exercise program under direct, one-on-one supervision by a physiotherapist. This is a purely physical exercise intervention. No drugs or devices are used as part of the intervention. Only the Schroth exercise program is administered.	Other: Supervised Schroth Exercise; 60-minute Schroth exercise sessions, 5 days/week for 12 weeks, delivered under one-on-one physiotherapist supervision. Includes 3D auto-correction, rotational breathing, postural stabilization, and curve-specific exercises (shoulder counter-pull, muscle cylinder, side-lying, sailing, prominent hip, Schroth walking)
Active Comparator: Home Exercise Program Group (HEPG); Participants in this group will be provided with an individualized home exercise program that matches the supervised group in terms of principles, content, and duration. This is a purely physical exercise intervention. No drugs or devices are used as part of the intervention. Only the Schroth exercise program is administered.	Other: Home-Based Schroth Exercise; Same 60-minute Schroth exercise program, 5 days/week for 12 weeks, performed at home without direct physiotherapist supervision. Participants receive initial instruction and an individualized exercise booklet.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Cobb Angle	Change in the primary curve Cobb angle measured on standing posteroanterior full-spine radiographs, assessed at baseline and 3 months post-intervention.	Baseline and 3 months post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Trunk Rotation Angle (ATR)	Change in angle of trunk rotation measured using a scoliometer during the Adam's Forward Bend Test.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Thoracic Kyphosis	Change in thoracic kyphosis angle measured using an inclinometer at T1-T2 and T12-L1 levels.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Lumbar Lordosis	Change in lumbar lordosis angle measured using an inclinometer at T12-L1 and S2-S3 levels.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Respiratory Function assessed by Spirometry (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, FEF25-75%)	Respiratory function will be assessed using a spirometry device. The following parameters will be recorded and analyzed: Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), the FEV1/FVC ratio, Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), and Forced Expiratory Flow at 25-75% of FVC (FEF25-75%).	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Pain Level	Change in musculoskeletal pain/discomfort assessed using the Turkish-validated Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (T-CMDQ) [19]. The questionnaire evaluates discomfort in 18 body regions over the past week across three dimensions: frequency, severity, and functional impact on daily activities. A risk score is calculated for each body region by multiplying these three parameters. For bilaterally assessed regions, the higher of the two side-specific scores is used in the analysis. Higher scores indicate worse outcomes.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Quality of Life	Change in health-related quality of life assessed using the Turkish-validated Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of five domains: function, pain, self-image, mental health, and treatment satisfaction. Each item is scored from 1 (worst) to 5 (best); domain and total scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate better outcomes. The treatment satisfaction domain will be assessed only at 12 weeks; other domains assessed at both baseline and 12 weeks.	Baseline and 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Bitlis Eren University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 15, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 20, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): August 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 21, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 20, 2026
• Last Verified: August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis; Schroth Exercise
• Other Study ID Numbers: E.9290

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