An interventional study of Kyphosis-Specific Schroth Exercise Program and Conventional Exercise Program in Kyphosis Postural Thoracic and Kyphosis, sponsored by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 10 Years to 17 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-09.
Sponsored by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study will compare two home exercise programs for adolescents aged 10-17 years with postural hyperkyphosis: kyphosis-specific Schroth exercises and traditional stretching and strengthening exercises. It will examine whether one program is more effective at improving the ability to sense and reproduce a corrected upper-back posture. The researchers expect the Schroth program to lead to greater improvement.
This study will compare two home-based exercise programs for adolescents aged 10-17 years with postural hyperkyphosis. Participants will follow either kyphosis-specific Schroth exercises or conventional stretching, strengthening, and stabilization exercises for eight weeks, approximately 45 minutes per session, three days a week.
The study will assess whether the programs affect participants' ability to recognize and reproduce a corrected thoracic posture. Other outcomes will include balance, spinal curvature and posture, muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, spinal pain, and participants' perceptions of their condition and overall change. Exercise participation, how accurately the exercises are performed, and any adverse events will also be recorded.
132 studies on the registry are indexed under Kyphosis; 31 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 58 is above the median of 44 across 82 interventional studies indexed under Kyphosis.
Browse Kyphosis studies →Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa is the lead sponsor of 699 studies on the registry; 213 are open to participants now.
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The criteria were revised on the registry on Nov 9, 2026. See what changed
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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.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
This group will perform a kyphosis-specific Schroth exercise program focused on active thoracic posture correction, axial elongation, and corrective breathing. Participants will practice the exercises at home, using a mirror for visual feedback and tactile cues to monitor their posture.
Behavioral: Kyphosis-Specific Schroth Exercise Program
This group will perform a conventional exercise program including stretching, scapular retraction, back extensor and trapezius strengthening, and trunk stabilization. The program will not include Schroth-specific active posture correction, corrective breathing, or mirror-based posture feedback.
Behavioral: Conventional Exercise Program
Participants will perform the program at home 3 days per week for 8 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes, including a 5-minute warm-up and a 3-minute cool-down. Three face-to-face training sessions will be provided during week 1, followed by face-to-face follow-up visits at the beginning of weeks 3 and 5. The program will have two stages. Participants who meet the prespecified progression criteria will advance to stage 2 at the week 5 follow-up.
Participants will perform the program at home 3 days per week for 8 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes, including a 5-minute warm-up and a 3-minute cool-down. Three face-to-face training sessions will be provided during week 1, followed by face-to-face follow-up visits at the beginning of weeks 3 and 5. The program will have two stages. Participants who meet the prespecified progression criteria will advance to stage 2 at the week 5 follow-up.
Thoracic Extension Absolute Repositioning Error
Thoracic position sense will be assessed with dual digital inclinometers placed at T1 and T12. With eyes closed, participants will reproduce a 15° thoracic extension target. The primary measure is the mean absolute difference between the target and reproduced angles across five trials, in degrees; lower values indicate smaller error. Flexion (30°) and right and left lateral flexion (20°) will also be measured as secondary directional outcomes.
Time frame: At baseline and at the end of Week 8
Balance
Balance will be assessed with the AI Balance system using the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (four eyes-open/eyes-closed conditions on firm and foam surfaces; three 30-second trials per condition) and the Limits of Stability test (weight shifting toward eight targets). Higher sway index values indicate greater sway; higher Limits of Stability scores indicate better performance.
Time frame: At baseline and at the end of Week 8
Thoracic Curvature
Thoracic curvature will be measured with a Flexicurve ruler from C7 to T12. The kyphosis index will be calculated as the kyphosis apex depth divided by the curve length, multiplied by 100. The values above 13 indicate hyperkyphosis.
Time frame: At baseline and at the end of Week 8
Sagittal Posture
Sagittal posture will be assessed from a lateral photograph using the PostureScreen Mobile application. Landmark displacement will be recorded in centimeters under standardized camera, posture, clothing, and hair conditions.
Time frame: At baseline and at the end of Week 8
Muscle Strength
Isometric strength of the trunk flexors and extensors, upper, middle, and lower trapezius, and serratus anterior will be measured using a hand-held dynamometer and the make-test method. Three 5-second contractions will be performed for each muscle group. Mean force will be normalized to body weight and reported in N/kg.
Time frame: At baseline and at the end of Week 8
Flexibility
Hamstring and lower-back flexibility will be measured with the sit-and-reach test; the maximum distance across three trials will be recorded in centimeters. Pectoralis minor muscle length will be measured bilaterally with a tape measure; the mean of three measurements will be analyzed.
Time frame: At baseline and at the end of Week 8
Muscle Endurance
Scapular, trunk flexor, and trunk extensor endurance will be assessed using the isometric scapular endurance, McGill trunk flexor endurance, and Biering-Sørensen tests, respectively. The time each position is maintained without compensation will be recorded in seconds. Each test will be performed once, with at least 5 minutes of rest between tests.
Time frame: At baseline and at the end of Week 8
Spinal Pain
Resting, activity-related, and nocturnal spinal pain during the previous week will be rated on a 0-10 cm Visual Analog Scale, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.
Time frame: At baseline and at the end of Week 8
Deformity Perception
Deformity perception will be assessed with the Turkish version of the Kyphosis-Specific Spinal Appearance Questionnaire. The 10-item questionnaire is scored from 1 to 5; the mean item score will be analyzed. Higher scores indicate a more negative perception of spinal appearance.
Time frame: At baseline and at the end of Week 8
Perceived Global Change
Overall perceived change will be assessed using the 7-point Global Rating of Change scale, from -3 (much worse) to +3 (much better), with 0 indicating no change. Scores of +2 or +3 will indicate a clinically meaningful perceived improvement.
Time frame: At the end of Week 8
Plan to share: No
Start is estimated for Nov 2026; primary completion for May 2027, 6 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 6 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 ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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