Effects of Body Awareness Therapy on Posture, Trunk Movement, Scoliosis & Body Awareness in Adolescents With Scoliosis

Summary

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a complex deformity of the spine, and its cause remains unknown. AIS can have negative physical, psychological, and social effects on an individual's health. There are two main treatment options for AIS: surgical and conservative approaches, including observation, exercise, and bracing. Scoliosis-specific exercises (SSE) refer to globally recognized, evidence-based exercise approaches.

In this study, the Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS), one of the SSE methods, will be used. SEAS consists of individualized active self-correction exercises combined with functional movements. Additionally, the Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) method will also be applied. BBAT is a body-focused, comprehensive approach that incorporates slow, rhythmic movements and breath control.

Both groups will attend supervised sessions in the clinic once a week, and home exercises will be assigned for the remaining days. Participants in the SEAS group will receive only SEAS treatment, while those in the BBAT group will receive both SEAS and additional BBAT exercises.

The goal of this clinical study is to investigate the effects of BBAT in addition to a rehabilitation program including SSE, on posture, spatial orientation, trunk proprioception, scoliosis-specific parameters, quality of life, and body in adolescents with IS aged between 10 and 17 years.

The research hypotheses for this study are as follows:

H1: Basic Body Awareness Therapy has an effect on posture in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

H2: Basic Body Awareness Therapy has an effect on spatial orientation in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

H3: Basic Body Awareness Therapy has an effect on trunk proprioception in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

H4: Basic Body Awareness Therapy has an effect on scoliosis-specific clinical parameters in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

H5: Basic Body Awareness Therapy has an effect on both general and scoliosis-specific quality of life in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

H6: Basic Body Awareness Therapy has an effect on body awareness in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

Conditions

• Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)

Interventions

OTHER

Scoliosis Specific Exercise

In the first session, the individual and their family will learn about AIS, the specific curvature, and the treatment process. They will also be taught correct posture and active self-correction, which means finding the best alignment in three planes. Once the individual becomes confident in their self-correction, they will start exercises. In the SEAS method, exercises begin in a sitting position, and as the individual improves, the exercises will be made more challenging and suited to their level. The rehabilitation protocol includes exercises in standing, squatting, single-leg stance, and on the floor. In each session, previous exercises will be reviewed, and new ones will be added. Individuals will be reminded to practice active self-correction during exercises and daily activities. In literature, there is no fixed protocol for exercise duration and frequency, but it is recommended to do exercises 2-3 times a week for 45 minutes or 20 minutes daily.

OTHER

Basic Body Awareness Therapy

Body awareness movements will be performed in lying, sitting, and standing positions. Then, they will be varied by incorporating walking, running, and voice use. The patient will be asked to perform these movements with a specific rhythm and coordination. BBAT aims to enhance body awareness and create a more realistic body image by normalizing posture, balance, and muscle tension. The training process will involve gradually increasing awareness of the relationship with the floor, the vertical axis, centering, breathing, and flow. During this therapy process, the goal is to improve the individual's awareness of themselves and their surroundings, helping them adopt the "here and now" experience and later apply it in daily life. At the end of each session, time will be given for the patient to respond to their experience and express their thoughts. There is variability in the application duration in the literature.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hacettepe University

  collaborator OTHER

• Gözde Yagci (Gür)

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Gözde Yağcı, Prof. Dr. · Hacettepe University

• Sena Yaylacı, MSc, PT · Hacettepe University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

10 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-04-30

Primary Completion

2025-07-31

Completion

2025-07-31

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations