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

BACKGROUND: 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). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of Schroth-based exercise therapy in adolescents with pectus excavatum. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled clinical trial. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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.