Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Combined With Spiral Muscle Chain Training for Pediatric Scoliosis

Nie danning

Status: Completed

Conditions: Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)

Treatments: Behavioral: Combined Exercise Therapy; Behavioral: Spiral Muscle Chain (SPS) Training; Behavioral: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07319702

NNU202410016

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) combined with spiral muscle chain (SPS) training in improving spinal function and posture in children with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does PNF combined with SPS training improve trunk alignment and body balance parameters in children with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis?

Does the combined intervention improve spinal mobility and paraspinal muscle endurance compared with single-intervention approaches?

Does the combined intervention lead to favorable changes in surface electromyography (sEMG) indicators of trunk and paraspinal muscles?

Researchers will compare a PNF therapy group, an SPS training group, and a combined PNF + SPS group to assess differences in spinal alignment, muscle endurance, and neuromuscular activation outcomes.

Participants will:

Be assigned to one of three intervention groups: PNF therapy alone, SPS training alone, or combined PNF and SPS training

Participate in supervised exercise training sessions three times per week for 12 weeks

Undergo pre- and post-intervention assessments, including electronic spinal measurements and surface electromyography testing

Enrollment: 189 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 13 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

- Age 13 to 18 years

Angle of trunk rotation (ATR) 5° ≤ ATR < 10°

No brace treatment and no history of spinal surgery

Able to complete PNF therapy and SPS training as required

Written informed consent obtained (participants and their parents/guardians)

Exclusion criteria

• Non-idiopathic scoliosis

Any exercise-related contraindications

History of spinal surgery

Any congenital deformity

Any trauma within the previous 6 months

Any accompanying neurological, rheumatological, or mental problems

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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189 participants in 3 patient groups

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Participants receive proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) therapy as an exercise intervention for abnormal spinal curvature. Training is conducted 3 times per week (every other day) for 12 weeks. The PNF protocol includes resisted scapular-pelvic patterns, cervical flexion/extension, trunk chopping/lifting patterns, bilateral upper-limb patterns, and bridge exercises (per PNF schedule).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Therapy

Spiral Muscle Chain (SPS) Training

Experimental group

Description:

Participants receive spiral stabilizing muscle chain (SPS) training as an exercise intervention for abnormal spinal curvature. Training is conducted 3 times per week (every other day) for 12 weeks. The SPS program follows the SPS training schedule (Training 1A-6A, 7C-10C, and stretching component), with planned repetitions/sets and practice time as listed in the protocol schedule.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Spiral Muscle Chain (SPS) Training

Combined Exercise Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Participants receive a combined program consisting of PNF therapy plus SPS spiral muscle chain training as an exercise intervention for abnormal spinal curvature. Training is conducted 3 times per week (every other day) for 12 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Combined Exercise Therapy