An interventional study of Traditional Postural Exercises and Schroth-Based Corrective Exercises in Hyperkyphosis, sponsored by Istinye University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 35 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-29.
Sponsored by Istinye University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
Postural hyperkyphosis is characterized by an excessive thoracic kyphotic curvature and may alter scapular positioning, muscular balance, and upper extremity biomechanics. Scapular stabilizer muscles play an important role in maintaining postural alignment and ensuring efficient force transmission throughout the kinetic chain. Exercise-based interventions, including conventional postural exercises and the Schroth method, are commonly used in the conservative management of postural hyperkyphosis. However, evidence directly comparing scapular stabilizer muscle activation during these exercise approaches remains limited.
The Schroth method is a three-dimensional corrective exercise approach incorporating active spinal elongation, postural correction, rotational breathing, and isometric muscle activation, whereas conventional postural exercises primarily focus on muscle strengthening, stretching, spinal mobility, and postural alignment.
The aim of this study is to compare the activation levels of scapular stabilizer muscles, including the serratus anterior, rhomboids, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius, during Schroth-based corrective exercises and conventional postural exercises in young adults with postural hyperkyphosis using surface electromyography. Isometric muscle strength of the same muscle groups will also be evaluated.
The study will focus on immediate muscle activation patterns during exercise performance rather than long-term treatment outcomes. The findings are expected to provide objective evidence regarding muscle recruitment patterns during different corrective exercise approaches and contribute to the development of more individualized and targeted exercise programs for individuals with postural hyperkyphosis.
132 studies on the registry are indexed under Kyphosis; 31 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 50 is above the median of 44 across 82 interventional studies indexed under Kyphosis.
Browse Kyphosis studies →Istinye University is the lead sponsor of 221 studies on the registry; 94 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
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BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants allocated to this sequence will perform traditional postural exercises (prone T and prone I exercises) during the first session, followed by Schroth-based corrective exercises (Kneeling Between Chairs and Standing in a Doorway) during the second session, with a two-day interval between sessions. Scapular stabilizer muscle activation will be assessed using surface electromyography (sEMG) during both exercise protocols.
Other: Traditional Postural Exercises · Other: Schroth-Based Corrective Exercises
Participants allocated to this sequence will perform Schroth-based corrective exercises (Kneeling Between Chairs and Standing in a Doorway) during the first session, followed by traditional postural exercises (prone T and prone I exercises) during the second session, with a two-day interval between sessions. Scapular stabilizer muscle activation will be assessed using surface electromyography (sEMG) during both exercise protocols.
Other: Traditional Postural Exercises · Other: Schroth-Based Corrective Exercises
The traditional postural exercise protocol consists of two prone exercises targeting the scapular stabilizer muscles: prone T and prone I exercises. During the prone T exercise, participants will lie in a prone position with their shoulders abducted to 9
The Schroth-based corrective exercise protocol consists of two exercises: Kneeling Between Chairs and Standing in a Doorway. During the Kneeling Between Chairs exercise, participants will maintain a kneeling position between two chairs, with their upper extremities supported on the chairs. Active axial elongation, postural correction, scapular stabilization, and rotational angular breathing will be performed according to Schroth principles. During the Standing in a Doorway exercise, participants will stand in a doorway with their upper extremities positioned against the doorframe at shoulder level. Active axial elongation, scapular stabilization, thoracic expansion, and rotational angular breathing will be performed while maintaining the corrected posture. Scapular stabilizer muscle activation will be continuously recorded using surface electromyography during the exercises.
Scapular Stabilizer Muscle Activation
Scapular stabilizer muscle activation will be assessed bilaterally using wireless surface electromyography (sEMG) during Schroth-based corrective and conventional postural exercises. Muscle activation of the serratus anterior, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius will be recorded. EMG signals will be sampled at 1000-2000 Hz and band-pass filtered between 20-500 Hz. Root mean square (RMS) values obtained from the middle three seconds of the isometric holding phase will be normalized to each muscle's maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and expressed as a percentage of MVIC (%MVIC). Mean normalized muscle activation values across three sets will be used to compare the two exercise approaches.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Muscle Strength
Bilateral isometric muscle strength of the serratus anterior, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius will be assessed using a digital handheld dynamometer with the make-test technique. Each muscle will be evaluated through three maximal voluntary isometric contractions lasting five seconds each, with 30-second rest intervals between repetitions and one-minute rest intervals between muscles. The mean of the two highest measurements will be used for analysis. Higher values indicate greater isometric muscle strength.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Thoracic Kyphosis Angle (Cobb Method)
Thoracic kyphosis angle will be assessed using the Cobb method on standing lateral thoracic radiographs. The angle between the superior endplate of the T1 vertebra and the inferior endplate of the T12 vertebra will be measured in degrees (°). All radiographic measurements will be performed by the same radiologist. Greater angular values indicate increased thoracic kyphosis.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Kyphosis Index
Thoracic kyphosis will be assessed non-invasively using a flexible curve ruler (Flexicurve). With the participant standing upright, the ruler will be molded along the spinal curvature and transferred onto paper. The thoracic curvature length (L) and maximum kyphosis height (H) will be measured. The Kyphosis Index will be calculated using the formula: (H / L) × 100. Higher scores indicate greater thoracic curvature, and a score of 13 or higher will be considered indicative of hyperkyphosis.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Jan 2027, 2 months later.
Of 56 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Kyphosis, half reached primary completion within 9 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 4 and three quarters within 30. This study's planned 2 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 58 studies reached it within 9 months; a quarter within 4 and three quarters within 30.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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