The Effect of Schroth Exercises on Cerebral Cortical Thickness and Motor and Proprioceptive Fibres

NCT06410456 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 932
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 54
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS): It is a type of structural scoliosis of unknown aetiology and most commonly seen in girls aged 10-18 years. In addition to spinal deformity, postural asymmetry, proprioceptive sensory, vestibular and vestibulospinal system dysfunctions may be observed in AIS. The Schroth method is a scoliosis-specific exercise approach that uses postural, scoliosis-specific sensorimotor and breathing exercises and is widely used in scoliosis rehabilitation. The treatment programme consists of correction of scoliotic posture with the help of exteroceptive and proprioceptive stimulation and mirrors, isometrics and other exercises to lengthen or strengthen asymmetric muscles, and maintaining a specific breathing pattern. Several studies have shown that the Schroth method improves Cobb angles, slows curve progression, reduces the need for surgery, increases back muscle strength and improves respiratory function. However, although the Schroth method is widely used in AIS rehabilitation, no study has investigated the effects of Schroth exercises on cerebral cortical thickness, proprioceptive sensation and corticospinal pathways. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Schroth and traditional exercises on cortical thickness, proprioceptive sensation and corticospinal tracts in individuals with AIS.

Conditions

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Tractography

  Number of fibers of tractus corticospinalis, lemniscus medialis tracts

  Six months

• VolBrain

  Brain cortical thickness measurement

  Six months

• Cobb angle

  Six months

Study Arms (2)

Schroth exercises groups

EXPERIMENTAL

Adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis received Schroth exercises four days a week for six months.

Other: Schroth exercises

Traditional exercises groups

EXPERIMENTAL

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients underwent stretching exercises (especially for the muscles on the concave side of the curve), posture training, strengthening and spinal flexibility exercises as conventional exercises four days a week for six months.

Other: Traditional exercises

Interventions

Schroth exercises OTHER

Traditional exercise

Schroth exercises groups

Traditional exercises OTHER

Adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis performed conventional exercises four days a week for six months.

Traditional exercises groups

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 10 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Being a female individual between the ages of 10-18
• Being diagnosed with AIS
• Cobb angle should be maximum 25º
• All participants do not have any disease that affects the nervous system.
• All participants must use their right hand as the dominant hand
• All participants do not have any chronic disease requiring the use of any neurological or psychiatric medication.
• Permission to participate in the study is given by the parents of all participants.

You may not qualify if:

• MRI of individuals who do not have any mental problems, neurological, psychiatric, muscular, rheumatic or orthopedic diseases will be included in the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hitit University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ahmet Payas

Kayseri, Kayseri, 38100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Kocaman H, Bek N, Kaya MH, Buyukturan B, Yetis M, Buyukturan O. The effectiveness of two different exercise approaches in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A single-blind, randomized-controlled trial. PLoS One. 2021 Apr 15;16(4):e0249492. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249492. eCollection 2021.

  PMID: 33857180 RESULT

• Li P, Legault J, Litcofsky KA. Neuroplasticity as a function of second language learning: anatomical changes in the human brain. Cortex. 2014 Sep;58:301-24. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2014.05.001. Epub 2014 May 17.

  PMID: 24996640 RESULT

• Sagi Y, Tavor I, Hofstetter S, Tzur-Moryosef S, Blumenfeld-Katzir T, Assaf Y. Learning in the fast lane: new insights into neuroplasticity. Neuron. 2012 Mar 22;73(6):1195-203. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.01.025. Epub 2012 Mar 21.

  PMID: 22445346 RESULT

• Payas A, Kocaman H, Yildirim H, Arik M, Batin S. Associations Between Different Exercise Approaches and Brain Structure in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: An Exploratory Neuroimaging Study. Global Spine J. 2025 Dec 22:21925682251411247. doi: 10.1177/21925682251411247. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 41424174 DERIVED

Study Officials

• Ahmet Payas, Ph.D

  Amasya University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 17, 2024
• First Posted: May 13, 2024
• Study Start: April 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 30, 2024
• Study Completion: February 1, 2025
• Last Updated: November 14, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Locations

TU (1)