Evaluating Yoga as an Add-on Treatment for Back Pain in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis

What this Trial Is About

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis AIS is a common spinal condition affecting more than 5% of children and adolescents, especially females at a ratio of 3 to 1 compared to males. It is characterized by a spinal curve greater than 10 degrees and is often linked to chronic back pain, poor sleep quality, and depression. Many AIS patients are not candidates for surgery and face limited non-operative treatment options, highlighting a need for alternative approaches, especially given barriers to physical therapy and the opioid crisis. This research aims to study the addition of a structured yoga program to standard care to improve relief and quality of life for AIS patients. The study is a randomized clinical trial including non-operative AIS patients, with or without bracing. Participants will be assigned to either continue their standard care or add a 20-minute online yoga class twice a week. The yoga protocol is designed to support physical and psychological health. The trial compares outcomes between those receiving standard care alone and those combining it with yoga. Both braced and non-braced patients are included in each group. Participants will be monitored through questionnaires like the Scoliosis Research Society SRS-22 tool, tracking pain, quality of life, depression, sleep, and activity levels at enrollment, six months, and one year. The study also measures the spinal curve angle Cobb angle and participant engagement with the yoga program. Data collection includes online class attendance, surveys, and follow-up visits to assess adherence, clinical outcomes, and overall feasibility over the course of the year-long study.

Yoga for Back Pain in Adolescent Scoliosis