Recruiting

Exercise Trial

Sponsor:

University of Alberta

Code:

NCT03862417

Conditions

Degenerative Scoliosis

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 50+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Schroth exercises

Study Details

Brief summary:

Adult degenerative scoliosis is the most common spine deformity in adults. Patients present a lateral curvature of the spine and vertebra rotation. Curves meeting indications for treatment affect 24% of the aging adult population. Adult scoliosis causes pain, curve progression, and cosmetic deformity affecting quality of life and function. Pain affects 90% of patients with AS. Other than surgery for severe cases and pain medication, very little non-operative treatments have been investigated. Scoliosis-specific exercises have shown promise in a single study in adults and in an Alberta adolescent study.

The goal of this pilot randomized controlled trial on the effect of Schroth exercises in adults with degenerative scoliosis compared to observation is to determine the feasibility of conducting a larger study. This study will help plan and secure funding for a larger study by examining the ability to recruit enough eligible participants, whether patients can follow the prescribed program session attendance and complete the home exercises prescribed. The early estimate the effects of the exercises on pain, quality of life, disability, deformity and posture measurements will help determine the potential of this approach and the likely success of a larger RCT. This study addresses a need of adults with degenerative scoliosis who do not meet surgical indications but still experience pain and disability by exploring a promising exercise approach.

Conditions

Degenerative Scoliosis

Study ID

NCT03862417

Start date

Sep 1, 2020

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Dec 31, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 31, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 50+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults over 50 years old with degenerative scoliosis (n=20) with pain (>2/10). Other inclusion criteria are: (1) curves 15°-45°.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Curves over 50° are surgical candidates, and will be excluded. Patients who have had cortisone or anesthetic injections within the last 3 months, surgery or presenting contra-indications to exercises (fractures, cancer, severe cardio-vascular co-morbidities, or osteopenia) will be excluded.

Study Design

Enrollment

20 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Schroth exercise group

Will attend 5 1-hr long individual sessions to learn Schroth exercises and the home program. A 30-min. daily home program of 3 to 4 exercises will be progressed by the certified Schroth therapist using an algorithm. Patients will attend weekly 1-hr long group therapist-led exercise classes for 3 months. At each group class, adequate exercise performance will be assessed using the checklist. An algorithm guides the prescription of exercises intensity and progression from static to dynamic depending on the participant's ability. Prescription begins with Sitting on a Ball. If performed adequately, a more challenging exercise is attempted. The 3 most challenging exercises performed adequately as per the checklist will be prescribed with a detailed handout.

no intervention: Control group

Observation without treatment or with previously prescribed pain medication is the current standard for adults with degenerative scoliosis not planning surgery.

Interventions

Schroth exercises

An exercise program begun individually and then continued in groups.

Primary outcome measure

  • Recruitment rate [ Time Frame: 1 year ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Eric Parent, PhD

7804928889eparent@ualberta.ca

Locations

University of Alberta, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Dept. Physical Therapy

Recruiting

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G2G4

Contacts

Eric C Parent, PhD

780-492-8889eparent@ualberta.ca

Principal Investigator:

Eric C Parent, PhD, PT

More Information

Sponsor

University of Alberta

Last update posted

May 8, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • Scoliosis
  • Exercise
  • Pain
  • Posture
  • Quality of life
  • Disability

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Alberta on 2026-05-08.