Effekter af Schroth -baseret tredimensionelt træningsprogram på vinkel på kyphose, muskelstyrke, balance, smerter og livskvalitet hos patienter med postural hyperkyphosis med kronisk nakkesmerter (Kyphosis)

Schroth therapy, a three-dimensional exercise therapy program was developed in Germany in the 1920s by Katharina Schroth. The three-dimensional exercise program refers to the sagittal, frontal and horizontal planes. The three- dimensional Schroth exercise training consists of spinal lengthening and positional correction of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions in the sagittal plane, special breathing techniques and re-education of the neuromuscular system to improve kyphotic posture.

The study group will receive electrotherapy treatment (hot pack, ultrasound, tens) to the neck area for 30 minutes in each session. After electrotherapy treatment, kyphotic posture correction exercises will be applied with the help of proprioceptive and extroceptive stimuli in the sagittal plane with mirror control and specific corrective breathing. In the exercise program, exercise practices will be performed in specific positions in supine, prone, sitting and standing. The exercise program will be planned for approximately 40 minutes in each session. A total of 20 sessions of electrotherapy and exercise will be performed for 4 weeks. At the end of the 4th week, after the electrotherapy sessions are completed, exercise applications will continue for the other 4 weeks by the physiotherapist who performs the exercise 3 days a week.

Corrective exercise program for posture will consist of deep neck flexor muscle strengthening exercises, lower and middle trapezius strengthening, neck isometric exercises.

Patients to be included in the control group will receive electrotherapy treatment (ultrasound, tens, hotpack) to the neck area for 30 minutes in each session. After the electrotherapy treatment, posture corrective exercises will be applied. Corrective exercise program for posture will consist of deep neck flexor muscle strengthening exercises, lower and middle trapezius strengthening, neck isometric exercises. All strengthening exercises will be given 3 sets of 10 repetitions per day, each repetition for 10 seconds. Stretching exercises will be given to the shortened upper trapezius and pectoralis major muscles. Stretching exercises will be given 2 sets of 5 repetitions per day, with each repetition lasting 20 seconds. In the first 4 weeks, a total of 20 sessions of electrotherapy and exercise will be performed in corrective exercises for posture. At the end of the 4th week, exercise applications will continue for the other 4 weeks 3 days a week.

The kyphosis angles of the participants will be measured using a flexible ruler and an inclinometer.As stated in the literature, thoracic kyphosis will be measured from C7-T12 spinal processes.Prior to molding the flexicurve ruler to the subject's spine, the C7 and T12 posterior spinous processes were located via palpation.The flexicurve ruler was then molded over the spine midline from C7 to T12. The resulting curve was traced on paper, and the locations of the C7 and T12 processes were labelled. The measurement was performed while the participant stood in a neutral upright posture with feet shoulder-width apart.The flexible ruler will be placed on the marked reference points. It will then be placed on the millimetrically divided paper without distorting its shape. The angular value of the curvature drawn on the paper from the contour of the flexible ruler will then be calculated. Another kyphosis angle will be measured by the same procedure using an inclinometer.

In our study, trunk extensor and flexor muscle strengths of participants will be measured with a hand-held dynamometer (Lafayette hand-held dynamometer model 01165 JTech, USA). Trunk extension strength will be measured in a prone position. The dynamometer will be positioned at the T4 level of the subjects, with the measurement being taken perpendicular to the body. Participants will be asked to assume the supine position with their knees straight, in order to measure the strength of their trunk flexor muscles. The dynamometer will be placed at the sternum level, and the measurement will be taken perpendicular to the trunk.Participants will be asked to cross their hands over their chest. In both measurements, participants are instructed to generate an isometric trunk extension force for a duration of two seconds, followed by a maximum isometric hold for five seconds. This measurement is then repeated on three occasions.

Tetrax posturography device (Tetrax Potable Multiple System, Tetrax Ltd., Ramat Gan, Israel) is a device that allows objective assessment and recording of postural stability and fall risk.The measurements will be conducted in eight different positions: eyes open and closed with the head in a neutral position, eyes open and closed while standing on a foam surface with the head in a neutral position, eyes closed with the head rotated to the right and left, and eyes closed with the neck in full extension and flexion positions. The general stability index (SI) is to be conducted, with the displacement of each case's centre of mass and anterior-posterior weight distribution measurements being the basis on which it is to be assessed.

The assessment of spinal stabilisation activity will be conducted utilising the Stabiliser Pressure Biofeedback device (PBU; Chattanooga Group-Australia).The pressure biofeedback device is a practical tool commonly used in clinical settings to measure the pressure generated during the activation of the Transversus Abdominis and Multifidus muscles, emphasizing segmental stabilization. The pressure gauge of the device ranges from 0 to 200 mmHg and is connected to an inflation unit (manometer). The measurement will be conducted with the patient in the prone position. The inflation unit of the device will be placed under the patient's umbilicus, positioned above the ASIS (anterior superior iliac spines). Before asking the patient to perform any muscle movement, the device's pressure will be set to 70 mmHg. Participants will be instructed to take a deep breath and gently draw the umbilicus toward the lumbar vertebrae, maintaining this position for 10 seconds

The VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) will be utilised to evaluate the severity of neck pain. The patient will be requested to indicate the intensity of discomfort experienced over the preceding seven days on a 10-centimetre ruler that has been segmented into equal divisions. A score of 0 indicates an absence of pain, while a score of 10 represents the most severe pain. The measurement results will be used to assess the pain intensity.

To determine the anterior tilt of the head, the Tragus-to-Wall Distance will be measured. The participants should stand upright with their heels and back against the wall, maintaining a neutral neck position and closed chin. The distances between the occiput and the wall, as well as the tragus and the wall, will be measured using a tape measure in the sagittal plane. The average of these two measurements will then be calculated and recorded in centimetres.

The Neck Disability Index (NDI) is a self-reported questionnaire designed to assess neck pain-related disability. It consists of 10 items addressing daily activities such as personal care, lifting, reading, work, driving, sleeping, recreational activities, pain intensity, concentration, and headache. Each item is scored on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (no disability) to 5 (complete disability). The total score is calculated by summing the scores of all items and multiplying by two, resulting in a final score ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate a greater level of disability. In this study, the NDI will be used to evaluate neck-related functional limitations of participants, with scores expressed as a percentage of maximum possible disability.

The Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) Questionnaire is a widely accepted, simple, and practical tool developed by the Scoliosis Research Society to assess health-related quality of life in individuals with spinal deformities. In this study, the SRS-22 will be used to evaluate the quality of life of participants. The The questionnaire consists of 22 items grouped into five domains: pain, self-image/appearance, function/activity, mental health, and satisfaction with treatment. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (worst outcome) to 5 (best outcome). The total score is calculated by averaging the item scores within each domain or across all items. Higher scores reflect better health-related quality of life.