European Spine Journal - 2026-08-30 - Journal Article
Integrating basic body awareness therapy with scoliosis-specific exercise for trunk proprioception in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a randomized controlled trial.
Yaylacı SN, Demirkıran HG, Yağcı G
Topics
Key Takeaway
Adding BBAT to PSSE improved trunk repositioning error at 15° and 30° and NLP test scores (all p<0.05) over 16 weeks, but no between-group difference exceeded the MDC95 threshold, and Cobb angle and ATR were unchanged.
Summary Depth
Choose how much analysis to show on this article page.
Summary
This parallel-group RCT asked whether adding BBAT to a standard PSSE program improves trunk proprioception in AIS patients aged 10–17. Thirty-eight participants were randomized to PSSE alone or PSSE+BBAT; trunk repositioning error at 15° and 30° and the NLP test were primary outcomes analyzed by ANCOVA with Holm correction. Statistical significance was achieved at all three proprioceptive endpoints, but no difference exceeded the study-derived MDC95, and neither Cobb angle nor ATR differed between groups.
Key Limitation
The study cannot isolate the independent effect of BBAT because the intervention group received more total therapy time than controls, confounding any between-group difference with dose rather than content.
Original Abstract
PURPOSE
To investigate whether integrating Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) into a physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) program improves trunk proprioception in individuals with AIS.
METHODS
In this randomized, parallel-group controlled trial, 38 individuals with AIS (aged 10-17 years) were randomly allocated to the BBAT or the control group. The control group received PSSE only, whereas the BBAT group received a combined program of PSSE and BBAT for 16 weeks. Trunk proprioception was assessed using trunk repositioning tests at 15° and 30° and the Neutral Lumbar Positioning (NLP) Test. Cobb angles and axial trunk rotation (ATR) were measured. Outcomes were analyzed using ANCOVA adjusted for baseline values with Holm correction for multiple comparisons.
RESULTS
After adjustment for baseline values and Holm correction, trunk proprioceptive outcomes statistically favored the BBAT group at 15° (adjusted p < 0.001), 30° (adjusted p = 0.045), and in the NLP test (adjusted p < 0.001). However, none of the adjusted between-group differences exceeded the corresponding study-derived MDC₉₅ values; therefore, although statistically significant, the clinical relevance of the findings remains uncertain. No significant between-group differences were observed in Cobb angle or ATR (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
A combined PSSE-BBAT program was associated with statistically greater improvements in trunk proprioception than PSSE alone, although the clinical significance of these changes remains uncertain. BBAT may be considered a supportive body-awareness component within exercise-based scoliosis rehabilitation, but these findings reflect the combined intervention structure rather than the isolated additive effect of BBAT.