Face-to-Face Vs. Telerehabilitation for Thoracic Hyperkyphosis in Children: a Clinical Trial

NCT06730269 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: İMU-SEDAGOZENER-004
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the effectiveness of face-to-face versus telerehabilitation programs for children aged 9-12 with thoracic hyperkyphosis, a condition caused by poor posture that leads to excessive forward curvature of the spine. Twenty children participated in a six-week corrective exercise program, either in person or through an online platform. Both approaches significantly improved spinal posture, back muscle strength, and pain levels, with no notable differences in outcomes between the two methods. The findings suggest that telerehabilitation is as effective as face-to-face rehabilitation, offering a flexible option for managing thoracic hyperkyphosis in children.

Conditions

Kyphosis Thoracic; Hyperkyphosis

Keywords

Thoracic hyperkyphosis; face-to-face rehabilitation; telerehabilitation; spinal posture; musculoskeletal health; corrective exercises; Pediatric Kyphosis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Thoracic Kyphosis Angle (TKA)

  It was measured using a flexicurve ruler to assess the curvature of the thoracic spine before and after the intervention. \>45° is considered hyperkyphosis

  6 weeks

• Manual Muscle Test (MMT)

  Evaluates back muscle strength before and after the intervention. Minimum = 0 (no muscle contraction), Maximum = 5 (normal muscle strength).

  6 weeks

• Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  Assesses pain levels before and after the intervention. Minimum = 0 (no pain), Maximum = 10 (worst possible pain)

  6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Face-to-Face Rehabilitation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm received a thoracic corrective exercise program in person, consisting of four exercises targeting back extensor muscles. The exercises were performed three times a week for six weeks under the supervision of a trained therapist.

Behavioral: Face-to-Face Rehabilitation Program

Telerehabilitation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm followed the same thoracic corrective exercise program, but the sessions were delivered online through the Fiziu platform. Exercises were performed three times a week for six weeks with remote guidance and monitoring.

Behavioral: Telerehabilitation Program

Interventions

Face-to-Face Rehabilitation Program BEHAVIORAL

The Face-to-Face Rehabilitation Program is a structured rehabilitation regimen designed to improve posture, reduce pain, and strengthen back extensor muscles in children with thoracic hyperkyphosis. Participants in this group engaged in the Thoracic Corrective Exercise Program, which included four specific exercises targeting thoracic spine correction. The exercises were performed three times per week over six weeks, under the direct supervision of a trained therapist. This setup ensured real-time feedback, personalized adjustments, and guidance during each session, optimizing the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process.

Face-to-Face Rehabilitation Group

Telerehabilitation Program BEHAVIORAL

The Telerehabilitation Program is a structured rehabilitation regimen designed to improve posture, reduce pain, and strengthen back extensor muscles in children with thoracic hyperkyphosis. Participants in this group followed the Thoracic Corrective Exercise Program, which included four specific exercises targeting thoracic spine correction, performed three times per week over six weeks. The program was delivered remotely through the Fiziu platform, allowing therapists to provide virtual guidance, feedback, and monitoring during the sessions. This approach offered flexibility for families and ensured accessibility to rehabilitation services from the comfort of their homes.

Also known as: Fiziu Platform Video Based Exercise Group

Telerehabilitation Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 9 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Children aged 9-12 years.
• Diagnosed with thoracic hyperkyphosis (Thoracic Kyphosis Angle \> 40 degrees).
• Able to participate in a 6-week rehabilitation program (face-to-face or telerehabilitation).

You may not qualify if:

• Children with congenital spinal malformations.
• Children with mental health issues that could interfere with participation or compliance in the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medipol University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Medipol University

Istanbul, Kavacık, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Yang L, Lu X, Yan B, Huang Y. Prevalence of Incorrect Posture among Children and Adolescents: Finding from a Large Population-Based Study in China. iScience. 2020 May 22;23(5):101043. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101043. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

  PMID: 32330860 BACKGROUND

• Feng Q, Wang M, Zhang Y, Zhou Y. The effect of a corrective functional exercise program on postural thoracic kyphosis in teenagers: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2018 Jan;32(1):48-56. doi: 10.1177/0269215517714591. Epub 2017 Jun 14.

  PMID: 28610442 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Related Info
• Related Info

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Kyphosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Curvatures; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Officials

• Seda Gözener Canbülbül

  Medipol University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD candidate

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 6, 2024
• First Posted: December 12, 2024
• Study Start: October 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2023
• Study Completion: December 2, 2023
• Last Updated: December 12, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-12

Locations

TU (1)