Scoliosis-specific exercises: This approach aims to improve spinal stabilization and postural control through active self-correction. Exercises are performed in basic positions and progressively advance to more complex functional tasks according to individual ability. The program follows a structured yet individualized approach tailored to each participant's needs. All exercises are administered and supervised by an experienced, certified physiotherapist.
Awareness therapy: BBAT sessions include movements performed in basic and functional positions such as lying, sitting, standing, and walking, integrated with breathing and awareness of bodily sensations. The program aims to improve body awareness, movement quality, and postural control through slow, rhythmic, and coordinated movements. Movements emphasize grounding, alignment of body segments, weight transfer, and coordinated breathing. Participants are instructed to perform movements slowly and with attention to bodily perception. The program follows a structured yet individualized progression based on each participant's abilities under the supervision of a certified physiotherapist.
Study summary
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.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
10 Years
Max age
17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
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.
Primary outcome measure(s)
Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) — 6 months The Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) is a self-reported instrument originally developed by Shields et al. in 1989. The Turkish version has been shown to be valid and reliable in healthy individuals. The questionnaire assesses awareness of bodily processes, including sensitivity to bodily responses, prediction of bodily reactions, sleep-wake cycles, and the onset of illness. The BAQ consists of 18 items grouped into four subdomains and is rated on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 ("not at all true for me") to 7 ("completely true for me"). Total scores are calculated by summing item responses, with higher scores indicating greater body awareness.
Awareness Body Chart (ABC) — 6 months The Awareness Body Chart (ABC) is a simple, easy-to-use, and low-cost instrument developed by Danner et al. in 2017. It demonstrates high internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The chart consists of schematic anterior and posterior drawings of the human body, divided into 51 regions and 14 body parts based on anatomical structures. Participants are asked to perceive each body region and indicate their level of awareness by coloring the corresponding areas according to predefined categories. Higher scores reflect greater body awareness. The ABC also includes a pain intensity scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 100 (unbearable pain), and participants are instructed to mark painful areas on the chart.
The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) — 6 months The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) is used to assess general health-related quality of life from both the child's and the parent's perspectives. It evaluates the impact of disease and treatment on physical, emotional, social, and school functioning.The scale consists of 23 items rated on a Likert-type scale, and higher total scores indicate better quality of life. The Turkish version of the PedsQL has demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability.
Age-appropriate versions of the questionnaire are used for children aged 8-12 and 13-18 years, with parallel forms containing the same items but adapted language for each age group. Parent-proxy versions are also administered to obtain the parent's perspective.
The Japanese Scoliosis Questionnaire-27 (JSQ-27) — 6 months The Japanese Scoliosis Questionnaire-27 (JSQ-27) is used to assess scoliosis-specific quality of life in individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. It evaluates a broad range of domains, including pain, discomfort while wearing clothes, concerns about physical appearance, anxiety, and difficulties in daily activities. The questionnaire consists of 27 items scored on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 ("none") to 4 ("severe"). Total scores are calculated by summing item responses, with higher scores indicating worse scoliosis-specific quality of life. The JSQ-27 has been validated in individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, and the Turkish version has demonstrated good validity and internal consistency.
Trial sites (1)
Facility
City
Region
Status
Hacettepe University Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Orthotics and Biomechanics Clinic
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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