Acute Training Effect Assessment in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

N/AActive Not RecruitingNCT07194564

The University of Hong Kong40 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to assess the immediate effects of a self-corrective exercise on muscle activity and spinal alignment in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Eligible participants will undergo clinical assessments of spine deviation and surface electromyography (EMG) before and after a single session of guided self-controled and self-corrective exercise. The findings may help inform rehabilitation strategies for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) involves three-dimensional spinal deformity and asymmetric paraspinal muscle activation. Scoliosis-specific, self-corrective exercises are widely used in conservative care, but their immediate neuromuscular and postural effects after a single guided session remain insufficiently characterized. This prospective pre-post study will enroll adolescents with radiographically confirmed AIS for one clinic visit. After eligibility confirmation and consent/assent, participants will complete baseline assessments, perform a standardized, therapist-guided self-controlled, self-corrective exercise tailored to curve pattern, and then repeat the same assessments immediately afterward. The protocol emphasizes axial elongation, active self-correction delivered within a brief supervised session. The primary purpose is to quantify immediate changes in spinal alignment and paraspinal muscle activity to explore potential mechanisms of action and inform refinement of rehabilitation strategies for AIS. Feasibility and tolerability will be monitored during the single visit. No additional imaging is required beyond existing clinical records. Findings will be disseminated through scientific channels to guide future conservative management and hypothesis generation for subsequent controlled trials.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Adolescence Idiopathic Scoliosis AIS

Interventions

Control ExerciseBEHAVIORAL

A standard exercise without self-correction, performed by all participants as the control condition.

Self-corrective ExerciseBEHAVIORAL

A self-corrective exercise intervention targeting improved postural alignment and muscle activation.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 10 YearsMax age: 19 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * adolescent males and females with AIS * being aged 11 to 19 years Exclusion Criteria: * having a nonidopathic etiology of scoliosis * history of spinal surgery; spine trauma (e.g., fracture or motor vehicle accident) * metal implants (e.g., pacemaker) * not capable of understanding and completing our motor tasks * experiencing severe dermatological conditions or have open wounds at electrode placement sites.

Locations (1)

the Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital; the University of Hong Kong'

Hong Kong, Remote, Hong Kong

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Back muscle symmetry assessed by surface electromyography (sEMG) using the Asymmetry Index (ASI).

Surface EMG signals will be recorded from bilateral back muscles to assess muscle symmetry. The the Asymmetry Index (ASI) ranges from 0 to 1, where 1 indicates complete asymmetry and 0 indicates perfect symmetry. Higher values indicate greater asymmetry.

Time frame: Immediately after each exercise session.

Secondary Outcomes

Vertical line deviation (VLD) of spinous processes and sacrum in the coronal plane (posterior view)

The deviation of spinous processes and sacrum from the vertical line will be measured in the coronal plane from a posterior view.

Time frame: Immediately after each exercise session

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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