Manual Therapy and Virtual Reality Supported in Patient With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Overview

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the trunk and spine of unknown cause seen in adolescents. There are various conservative treatment methods to treat scoliosis. Manual therapy and exercises are a few of these treatments. There are studies showing that manual therapy reduces the severity of curvature, increases range of motion, modulates tissue/muscle extensibility, improves soft tissue movement limitation, relieves pain, and increases psychological well-being in scoliosis patients. In order to treat scoliosis, there are various exercise applications that are applied specifically to scoliosis, from physiotherapy applications. Core stabilization is one of the exercise methods that aim to keep the spine in the center. Virtual reality, on the other hand, is a three-dimensional simulation model that gives its participants the feeling of reality and allows mutual communication with a dynamic environment created by computers. Virtual reality is a method that provides the opportunity to work with task-based techniques by creating stimulating and entertaining environments, using people's interests and motivations. In a study, it was stated that two of the scoliosis-specific exercises were done through video-assisted games, but they stated that there was no difference because the number of exercises was low. Therefore, in this study, it was aimed to apply core stabilization exercises to scoliosis patients with virtual reality application and to investigate their effects on recovery in patients. In addition, it is planned to investigate whether the severity of the curvature in patients decreases further and whether it has an effect on other healing parameters by using the virtual reality treatment application together with manual treatment.

Male and female volunteer patients who were diagnosed with "Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis" and referred to physical therapy and met the inclusion criteria will be included in the study. Patients whose families and themselves agreed to participate voluntarily in this study will be randomly divided into three groups and included in the study. Virtual reality supported core stabilization exercises (stability enhancing exercises for the muscles around the spine), manual therapy (mobilization for the spine, mobilization and relaxation methods for the soft tissues around the spine) techniques for the second group, and both virtual reality supported core stabilization exercises and exercises for the third group were given to the third group. Manual therapy techniques will also be applied. The treatment program was planned as a total of 16 sessions, 2 days a week for 8 weeks. This study was planned as single-blind for the purpose of impartiality of the evaluation.