The Musculoskeletal System During Puberty in Dancers With Scoliosis, and the Effect of an Exercise Program

Overview

assessment of the musculoskeletal system will be performed twice a year, for three years of young dancers

Detailed description

Objectives: To examine musculoskeletal system characteristics in female dancers with and without scoliosis throughout the pubertal period, and to evaluate the effect of a targeted preventive exercise program.

Methods: Up to 140 female dancers aged 11-16 will be recruited for a two-phase study:

Phase A: a two-year longitudinal study with four assessment time points. . At each time point, participants will complete a comprehensive assessment including: anthropometric measurements (height and weight), sexual maturation status (Tanner scale), scoliosis assessment (Adam's forward bend test, scoliometer measurements, Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire), bone strength (quantitative ultrasound using a Speed of Sound \[SOS\] device), abdominal and back muscle morphology (ultrasound imaging), hip muscle strength (handheld dynamometry), hip range of motion (goniometry), dynamic balance (Y Balance Test), and flexibility (Beighton score). In addition, participants will complete a demographic questionnaire and an injury surveillance questionnaire.

Phase B : an intervention study in which dancers with scoliosis will be randomly assigned to either a three-month targeted exercise program or a control group continuing regular training. Outcomes will be assessed post-intervention and at one-year follow-up.

Interventions

• Other exercise
  exercise for strengthening core muscles

Primary outcome measures

• ultrasound for muscle thickness [Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years]
• muscle strength test [Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years]
• range of motion [Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years]
• bone strength [Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years]
• maturation status [Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years]
• scoliosis [Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years]
• flexibility [Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Female dancers aged 11-16 years who dance at least three times per week and whose parents have provided informed consent.
• Dancers who have participated in at least three weekly hours of classical ballet during the year preceding the study and during the study year.
• A minimum of two years of experience in classical ballet training.
• Dancers without underlying medical conditions, not taking medications, and with no history of orthopedic surgery.
• dancers diagnosed during the study with mild to moderate scoliosis who are not under medical follow-up requiring active orthopedic or surgical treatment.

Exclusion criteria

\- Dancers who are taking medications, are not in good health, have underlying medical conditions, or have undergone any orthopedic surgery.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Screening

Study locations

Israel · 1 center

• Haifa University, Department of PHysical Therapy — Haifa

Publications

• Dar G, Elbaz L, Vilnai T, Ben-Zvi D, Grinstein M, Steinberg N. Hyperlaxity and low bone mass predispose young female gymnasts to develop scoliosis suspected status. Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 2;15(1):22827. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-05895-0. PMID 40594709

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07379801 · 034/26

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗