Postoperative Rehabilitation in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Summary

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity occurring in growing individuals. In cases with progressive curvature, posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation (PSF) is considered the gold-standard surgical treatment for correcting the deformity and stabilizing the spine. Although surgery provides correction of the deformity, the loss of motion in the fused spinal segments may alter trunk biomechanics, potentially affecting postural control, balance mechanisms, and plantar pressure distribution.

Although several studies have investigated balance and postural control parameters in individuals with AIS, no study has been identified that objectively examines the effects of postoperative rehabilitation programs on stabilometric balance, postural control, and plantar pressure distribution following PSF surgery.

This study aims to investigate the effects of an exercise-based rehabilitation program on stabilometric balance, postural control, and plantar pressure distribution in individuals with AIS who have undergone PSF surgery. This randomized controlled trial is planned to include at least 42 individuals with AIS who have undergone PSF surgery and are being followed by the Department of Neurosurgery at Marmara University. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will participate in an exercise-based rehabilitation program consisting of two sessions per week for eight weeks. Consistent with routine practice, the control group will not participate in a structured rehabilitation program.

Postural control, stabilometric balance, and plantar pressure distribution will be assessed using a stabilometric and baropodometric platform system. Assessments will be conducted before and after the rehabilitation period. The findings are expected to contribute to the scientific evidence regarding postoperative rehabilitation approaches. The results may also guide clinicians in planning exercise-based rehabilitation programs following scoliosis surgery and provide patients and their families with useful information regarding the postoperative recovery process.

Conditions

• Surgery
• Rehabilitation
• Scoliosis; Adolescence

Interventions

OTHER

Exercise-Based Rehabilitation Program

Participants in the experimental group will receive a supervised exercise-based rehabilitation program consisting of 16 sessions delivered twice weekly for eight weeks. Each session will last approximately 60 minutes and will be supervised by a physiotherapist. The program will focus on core muscle control, spinal mobility, and dynamic stabilization and will begin with face-to-face patient education. Exercise equipment will be provided by the researchers, and a five-minute rest period will be allowed when requested. On days without supervised sessions, participants will perform the prescribed exercises at home for approximately 20 minutes and record their adherence in an exercise diary, which will be reviewed during the supervised sessions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Marmara University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• İrem Çetinkaya, PhD · Marmara University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

10 Years

Max Age

20 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-09-01

Primary Completion

2027-04-01

Completion

2027-06-01