Exercise Effects on Fascia, Low Back Pain, and Function in Scoliosis

NCT07418983 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: HU-FTR-ADO-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 34
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The use of various muscle energy techniques to address fascial restrictions, in addition to three-dimensional correction within scoliosis-specific exercise approaches, suggests that these exercises may have different effects on thoracolumbar fascia thickness. This may, in turn, lead to varying impacts on low back pain and functional improvement. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of different scoliosis-specific exercise approaches on thoracolumbar fascia thickness, low back pain, and function in individuals with idiopathic lumbar scoliosis and chronic low back pain.

Conditions

Scoliosis Idiopathic; Fascia; Low Back Pain

Keywords

Scoliosis; Low Back Pain; Fascia; Exercise Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Thoracolumbar Fascia Thickness

  Thoracolumbar fascia thickness will be measured using ultrasound at two bilateral points, located 2-3 cm lateral to the L3 spinous processes. Thoracolumbar fascia thickness will be measured in millimeters using ultrasound imaging. Fascia organization will be classified using a Likert scale as follows: very disorganized, somewhat disorganized, somewhat organized, and very organized, according to the method described in the study protocol.

  Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention

• Pain intensity

  Pain intensity will be assessed using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (0 = no pain, 100 = worst imaginable pain).

  Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention

• Pain quality

  Pain quality will be measured using the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) sensory and affective subscale scores. Higher scores indicate worse pain quality.

  Baseline and 8 weeks after intervention

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Functional Disability

  Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention

• Health-Related Quality of Life

  Baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants receive the Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) program focusing on active self-correction and functional stabilization.

Behavioral: Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) Exercises

Functional Individual Therapy of Scoliosis (FITS) Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants receive the Functional Individual Therapy of Scoliosis (FITS) program, designed to improve symmetry, muscular balance, and spinal alignment.

Behavioral: Functional Individual Therapy of Scoliosis Exercises

Interventions

Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) Exercises BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the SEAS group will receive one supervised 60-minute clinical session per week for 8 weeks, combined with a 40-minute home exercise program performed 6 days per week according to the SEAS protocol.

Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) Group

Functional Individual Therapy of Scoliosis Exercises BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the FITS group will receive one supervised 60-minute clinical session per week for 8 weeks, along with a 40-minute home exercise program performed 6 days per week following the FITS method.

Functional Individual Therapy of Scoliosis (FITS) Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 11 Years - 24 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 11-24 years
• Diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis
• Presenting a single lumbar curve pattern
• Experiencing low back pain for more than 3 months
• Pain intensity ≥3 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

You may not qualify if:

• History of spinal surgery
• Received any scoliosis treatment within the last year
• Current use of a spinal brace
• Regularly used pain medication
• Presence of neurological, congenital, rheumatological or psychological disorders

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hacettepe University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Ankara, Samanpazarı, 06100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain; Scoliosis

Interventions

Oceans and Seas; Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Spinal Curvatures; Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Geological Phenomena; Physical Phenomena; Seawater; Saline Waters; Environment; Ecological and Environmental Phenomena; Biological Phenomena; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Alev Doğan Özbudak, PT, MSc (PhD Candidate)

  Hacettepe University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: In this study, both the participants and the assessor measuring thoracolumbar fascia thickness are blinded to group allocation.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer

Model Details: Participants will be allocated into two parallel groups to compare the effects of different scoliosis-specific exercise approaches on thoracolumbar fascia thickness, pain, and quality of life.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2026
• First Posted: February 18, 2026
• Study Start: February 20, 2026
• Primary Completion: May 12, 2026
• Study Completion: May 26, 2026
• Last Updated: June 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)