Enhancing Home-Based Exercise Therapy with Telerehabilitation in Mild Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and

Objectives

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity that affects postural alignment, function, and quality of life. Telerehabilitation has emerged as a promising approach to enhance accessibility and continuity of exercise-based treatment in AIS. This study aimed to compare the effects of telerehabilitation-supported home exercise programs with standard home exercises on posture, pain, body image, and quality of life in adolescents with mild AIS. Materials and

Methods

Forty adolescents aged 10-18 years with mild AIS (Cobb angle 10-25°, Risser 0-3) were randomly assigned to two groups: study (n = 20) and control (n = 20). Both groups performed an 8-week home-based exercise program. The study group additionally received weekly online supervision by a physiotherapist. Outcomes included pain severity (VAS), posture (New York Posture Assessment Scale), body image (Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale), and quality of life (SRS-22 questionnaire). Statistical analyses were performed using non-parametric tests, with a significance level of p < 0.05.

Results

Twenty-nine participants completed the study (15 in the study group, 14 in the control group). Significant improvements were observed in the study group in SRS-22 total, pain, and function subscores, as well as posture scores (p < 0.05). In the control group, only the satisfaction subscore improved significantly (p < 0.05). No significant changes were detected in body image (WRVAS) in either group. Between-group comparisons showed greater overall clinical gains in the study group despite similar exercise adherence rates.

Conclusions

Supervised telerehabilitation enhances the effectiveness of home-based exercise programs in adolescents with mild AIS by improving postural alignment, reducing pain, and increasing functional capacity and quality of life. Telerehabilitation represents an accessible and efficient complementary strategy for managing AIS when in-person supervision is limited.