The effects of Schroth-based exercise therapy in adolescents with pectus excavatum: A controlled clinical trial

Because of the scarcity of research on exercise methods for pectus excavatum, further exploration in this area is necessary. This study aims to examine the effects of Schroth-based exercise therapy in adolescents with Pectus excavatum (PE).

To investigate the effects of Schroth-based exercise therapy in adolescents with pectus excavatum.

Controlled clinical trial.

This study included 35 adolescents: vacuum plus exercise group (n = 19) and vacuum group (n = 16). Deformity severity was assessed with the anthropometric index. Sagittal posture was analyzed from lateral photographs, thoracic cage mobility with chest circumference, and spinal/lumbar mobility with the sit and reach and modified Schober tests. Muscle endurance was evaluated with sit-ups and the lateral bridge test. Disease-specific quality of life was assessed with the Nuss Questionnaire and its parent form, and general quality of life with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory.

Repeated measure-Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant group × time interactions for various parameters: sagittal spinal posture, including the craniovertebral angle (F1,33 = 5.757; p = 0.022), thoracic angle (F1,33 = 17.901; p = <0.001), thoracolumbar angle (F1,33 = 16.195; p = 0.002), lumbar angle (F1,33 = 16.195; p = <0.001), and the physical functioning subscale (F1,33 = 9.029; p = 0.005) and the total score of the Nuss Questionnaire-Child (F1,33 = 4.868; p = 0.034), and the Nuss Questionnaire-Parent score (F1,33 = 5.598; p = 0.024). There were no significant group × time interactions for deformity severity, mobility, endurance, and general quality of life parameters (p > 0.05).

Schroth-based exercise therapy, when combined with vacuum treatment, is more effective than vacuum treatment alone in improving sagittal spinal posture and deformity-specific quality of life in adolescents with PE.