The Effects of Schroth Based Exercise Therapy in Adolescents with Pectus Excavatum

Hacettepe University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chest Deformities; Funnel Chest; Pectus Excavatum Deformity; Pectus Excavatum

Treatments: Other: Exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06763406

KA-22069/ 11.04.2023

Details and patient eligibility

About

Research on exercise methods for pectus excavatum (PE) is limited, highlighting the need for further studies. This study investigated the effects of Schroth-based exercise therapy combined with vacuum treatment in 35 adolescents with PE, divided into a vacuum + exercise group (n=19) and a vacuum-only group (n=16). Outcomes included deformity severity, sagittal posture, thoracic cage and spinal mobility, muscle endurance, and quality of life. The combination therapy significantly improved sagittal spinal posture (craniovertebral, thoracic, thoracolumbar, lumbar angles) and deformity-specific quality of life (Nuss Questionnaire scores) compared to vacuum-only treatment.

Enrollment: 35 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 10 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• having pectus excavatum
• being 10-18 years
• having Haller index more than 2.5

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with pectus excavatum associated with a syndrome Individuals with mixed deformity
• Individuals who have previously received any conservative treatment or surgery for chest deformity or spinal issues
• Individuals with neuromuscular, rheumatic, or chronic systemic diseases

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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35 participants in 2 patient groups

vacuum only

No Intervention group

Vacuum plus exercise

Experimental group

Treatment:

Other: Exercise