Effects of Body Awareness Therapy on Posture, Trunk Movement, Scoliosis & Body Awareness in Adolescents With Scoliosis

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a complex deformity of the spine, and its cause remains unknown. AIS can have negative physical, psychological, and social effects on an individual's health. There are two main treatment options for AIS: surgical and conservative approaches, including observation, exercise, and bracing. Scoliosis-specific exercises (SSE) refer to globally recognized, evidence-based exercise approaches. In this study, the Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS), one of the SSE methods, will be used. SEAS consists of individualized active self-correction exercises combined with functional movements. Additionally, the Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) method will also be applied. BBAT is a body-focused, comprehensive approach that incorporates slow, rhythmic movements and breath control. Both groups will attend supervised sessions in the clinic once a week, and home exercises will be assigned for the remaining days. Participants in the SEAS group will receive only SEAS treatment, while those in the BBAT group will receive both SEAS and additional BBAT exercises. The goal of this clinical study is to investigate the effects of BBAT in addition to a rehabilitation program including SSE, on posture, spatial orientation, trunk proprioception, scoliosis-specific parameters, quality of life, and body in adolescents with IS aged between 10 and 17 years. The research hypotheses for this study are as follows: H1: Basic Body Awareness Therapy has an effect on posture in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. H2: Basic Body Awareness Therapy has an effect on spatial orientation in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. H3: Basic Body Awareness Therapy has an effect on trunk proprioception in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. H4: Basic Body Awareness Therapy has an effect on scoliosis-specific clinical parameters in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. H5: Basic Body Awareness Therapy has an effect on both general and scoliosis-sp