Physical Therapy Treatment Once a Month Versus Physical Treatment Once a Week for Posture Improvement in Children and Adolescents Who Suffer From Posture Problem or Low Back Pain
Phase: NA
Conditions: Postural Kyphosis, Thoracic Region
Sponsor: Assuta Hospital Systems

 
Physical therapy treatment once a month versus once a week for 
posture improvement in children and adolescents 
 
Document Date: October 31, 2016 
Clinical Trials NCT03046472 
 
 
Background: Life time prevalence of Low Back Pain among Children and Adolescent 
ranges from 32% to 66%. This prevalence gets higher with age and among 17 years 
old it`s equal to prevalence among adults. Previous episode of Low Back pain is a 
predicting risk factor to the next one, hence we should do preventative care at a 
young age, even before the first attack occur. Poor posture was found as one of the 
risk factors for Low Back Pain in children. Adolescence with neutral posture had less 
prevalence of Low Back Pain then those with poor posture. Prolong slouch sitting 
was associated with Low Back Pain. Prevention education programs, focusing on 
knowledge, did not show effective change in posture behavior. Hence, the 
researchers concluded that it`s better if they focus on exercise
.
 
Research objective: comparison between physical therapy treatment for good 
posture once a week versus once a month, on postural behavior, thorax curve angle 
and Low Back Pain
.
 
Research design: randomize, Interventional, blinded
 
(Late note: this trial ended to be non-randomized due to unwillingness of 
participants in once a week program, therefore once in a week program was offered 
to everyone and only 17 out of 50 chose it).  
 
Population: the study will include 50 children and adolescents age 10-18 years 
suffering from poor back posture, with or without Low Back Pain
 
Procedure: The study will consist of two groups: both groups will get personal 
meeting once a month and a program of exercising at home every day. Treatment 
group will have in addition group meeting once a week and control group not. The 
intervention program will include physical awareness and practice for good posture, 
and exercises for flexibility, strength and muscle endurance.
 
 
 
 

Study Phase 
Executed by 
First meeting 
 
Providing explanation and get 
signatures from participants and their 
parents on consent forms 
Neta Vitman PBT MPE student 
Participant and parents answering 
questionnaires  
Inclinometer test  
 Postural observation 
Yael Gilo BPT blinded to group 
allocation 
Comprehensive physical therapy  
Checkup  
Treatment including tailored exercise 
plan and instructions for postural 
awareness  
Neta Vitman PBT MPE student 
Allocation for study groups 
Neta Vitman PBT MPE student 
Second meeting after 4 weeks 
 
Treatment including adjusting tailored 
exercise plan and instructions for 
postural awareness 
Neta Vitman PBT MPE student 
Third meeting after 8 weeks 
 
Treatment including tailored adjusting 
exercise plan and instructions for 
postural awareness 
Neta Vitman PBT MPE student 
Fourth meeting after 12 weeks 
 
Participant and parents answering 
questionnaires  
Inclinometer test  
 Postural observation 
Yael Gilo BPT blinded to group 
allocation 
Last treatment of trial including tailored 
adjusting exercise plan and instructions 
for postural awareness. ( if goals have 
not been achieved yet, Treatment will 
go on in the clinic after trial is finished) 
Neta Vitman PBT MPE student 
 
Measurement tools: 
 Digital Inclinometer for measuring thorax curve angle. 
 Postural observation for measuring postural habits. 
Back pain and postural habits questionnaire for measuring LBP on VAS SCALE, 
postural knowledge and habits of participant, including demographic data. 
Research hypothesis: postural behavior, thorax curve angle and Low Back Pain will 
get better in both groups but more in the treatment group.