Overview
The goal of this randomised clinical trial is to evaluate whether adding Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) to scoliosis-specific exercises can improve body awareness, quality of life and scoliosis-speficic outcomes in adolescents aged 10-17 years with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does the addition of BBAT to scoliosis-specific exercises lead to greater improvements in body awareness compared to scoliosis-specific exercises alone? Does adding BBAT improve trunk proprioception, scoliosis-related parameters, and health-related quality of life in adolescents with AIS?
H1: Adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis who receive Basic Body Awareness Therapy in addition to scoliosis-specific exercises will demonstrate greater improvements in body awareness compared to those receiving scoliosis-specific exercises alone.
H2: Adolescents receiving Basic Body Awareness Therapy in addition to scoliosis-specific exercises will demonstrate greater improvements in scoliosis-related clinical parameters compared to those receiving scoliosis-specific exercises alone.
H3: Adolescents receiving Basic Body Awareness Therapy in addition to scoliosis-specific exercises will demonstrate greater improvements in both general and scoliosis-specific quality of life compared to those receiving scoliosis-specific exercises alone.
Description
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity that may affect not only spinal alignment but also postural control and body perception. Recent evidence suggests that, beyond structural deformity, alterations in sensory integration and body awareness may contribute to postural asymmetry in individuals with AIS. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both structural and perceptual components in rehabilitation.
Physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) are widely used in the conservative management of AIS and aim to improve spinal alignment through active self-correction and functional stabilization. While PSSE has demonstrated positive effects on scoliosis-related clinical outcomes, its effects on perceptual aspects such as body awareness remain less explored. Therefore, integrating interventions that specifically target body awareness may enhance rehabilitation outcomes.
Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) is a movement-based approach that focuses on posture, movement quality, breathing, and awareness of bodily sensations. By promoting conscious perception of body alignment and movement, BBAT may support improvements in postural control and functional organization in individuals with AIS. For this reason, BBAT was incorporated as a complementary intervention alongside PSSE.
This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of adding BBAT to a PSSE-based rehabilitation program. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving PSSE alone or an intervention group receiving PSSE combined with BBAT. Both groups will participate in supervised sessions once per week for 6 months and perform home-based exercises on the remaining days.
Outcome measures will include body awareness, health-related quality of life, and scoliosis-specific clinical parameters. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and after 6 months.
This study aims to determine whether the addition of BBAT to conventional exercise-based rehabilitation provides additional benefits in adolescents with AIS.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosed of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
- Age between 10 and 17 years
- Cobb angle ≥15°
- No previous or concurrent scoliosis treatment
- Risser sign between 0 and 4
Exclusion Criteria:
- Evidence of congenital scoliosis or other spinal deformities (e.g., hyperkyphosis, pectus deformities)
- Diagnosis of neuromuscular, rheumatologic, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary disorders
- Regular participation in sports
- History of spinal orthosis use or scoliosis surgery.
