Adolescent Postural KyphosisNCT07739082
Effect of Virtual Reality in Adolescents With Thoracic Hyperkyphosis
A study testing comprehensive corrective exercise program and Virtual reality-based posture training in people with Adolescent Postural Kyphosis and Thoracic Kyphosis, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
The study aims to: 1. Investigate the effect of virtual reality on kyphotic angle in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis. 2. Investigate the effect of virtual reality on quality of life in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis. 3. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 13 to 18 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Adolescent Postural Kyphosis, Thoracic Kyphosis
- What is being tested?
- comprehensive corrective exercise program and Virtual reality-based posture training
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 46 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2026to 30 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 13 to 18 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants must meet all the following conditions:
- Adolescents with a kyphosis angle >40°.
- Aged 13 to 18 years.
- Normal body mass index range
Who cannot join
- Participants who met one of the following criteria will be excluded:
- Adolescents who cannot understand or follow instructions.
- Congenital spinal deformities.
- Developmental disorders.
- Adolescent athletes.
- Neurological, musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary diseases.
- Vision or hearing impairments.
- Medical conditions hindering physical activity
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Egypt1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
out-patient clinic, faculty of physical therapy, Cairo university
Cairo
Yassen Motamed Abd Elwahab, physical therapist, 01119322806, yassenmotamed@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Effect of Virtual Reality on Kyphotic Angle and Quality of Life in Adolescents With Thoracic Hyperkyphosis
The study aims to:
- Investigate the effect of virtual reality on kyphotic angle in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis.
- Investigate the effect of virtual reality on quality of life in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis.
- Investigate the effect of virtual reality on the enjoyment level in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis.
Read the detailed description
The adolescent period is marked by rapid physical changes that increase vulnerability to poor posture, potentially leading to chronic pain and spinal deformities in adulthood. High prevalence rates of incorrect posture (65%) necessitate early diagnosis and intervention, including suitable treatment and rehabilitation programs. Traditional physiotherapy techniques often struggle with adolescent engagement, prompting exploration of VR-based exercise therapy, which has demonstrated improved user adherence and effectiveness in addressing postural disorders. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of VR training on the kyphotic angle in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis, presenting a novel therapeutic strategy that enhances adherence among those resistant to conventional methods.
- Conditions
- Adolescent Postural Kyphosis, Thoracic Kyphosis
- Being tested
- comprehensive corrective exercise program, Virtual reality-based posture training
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
comprehensive corrective exercise programOther
treatment will last for 40-50 minutes, 3 days a week for 12 weeks
Exercises will include:
- Chin tuck
- Stretching of neck extensor muscles
- Stretching of pectoral muscle groups in standing and supine positions
- T, Y, W and I exercises in a prone position.
- Postural perception training (PPT)
- Thoracic self-mobilization
Virtual reality-based posture trainingDevice
Meta Quest 3 is an Mixed Reality headset providing augmented reality and virtual reality capabilities, allowing users to engage in both physical and virtual environments. Participants will play the "Totally Basketball" game, which promotes upper body engagement and postural correction through movements focusing on cervical retraction, scapular stabilization, and thoracic extension. The virtual reality sessions will last 20 minutes, scheduled after 30 to 45 minutes of conventional exercises, three times a week for eight weeks. Each session includes an introduction to the headset, a safety briefing, supervised trials, and active gameplay aimed at addressing thoracic hyperkyphosis with physiotherapist oversight to ensure safety and proper technique.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| conventional exercise program | Active comparator | The control group included 23 patients and received a comprehensive corrective exercise program for thoracic hyperkyphosis Receives: Other: comprehensive corrective exercise program |
| Virtual reality-based posture training | Experimental | The experimental group will receive the same program as the control group in addition to virtual reality-based posture training using Meta Quest 3 - a virtual reality headset with the Totally Basketball game. Receives: Other: comprehensive corrective exercise program; Device: Virtual reality-based posture training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
assessment of Kyphotic Angle
Kyphotic angle assessment using a bubble inclinometer involves the following steps: firstly, zero the inclinometer on a vertical wall. Next, identify the spinous processes of C7, T1, T12, and L1. Place the cephalic foot of the inclinometer on the C7 spinous process, then repeat for the lower thoracic spine with the caudal foot on T12. The kyphosis angle is calculated by adding the angles from both inclinometer placements.
Measured: At baseline and after 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
assessment of Quality of Life
The questionnaire will be administered twice: at baseline and post-intervention, with participants receiving a printed Arabic copy and instructions for completion. The Arabic Kidscreen-27 includes 27 items across five dimensions: physical health (5 items), psychological health (7 items), autonomy and parents (7 items), peers and social support (4 items), and school and environment (4 items). Responses use a five-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life. Completion is estimated to take 10-15 minutes.
Measured: At baseline and after 12 weeks
assessment of Participant Enjoyment
Participant enjoyment assessment using a 7-point Likert scale:
A 7-point Likert scale will be administered in person, immediately following each virtual reality session. The patient will rate his enjoyment level according to the following:
How enjoyable do you find the session?
1=very enjoyable, 2=slightly enjoyable, 3=enjoyable, 4=neutral, 5=unenjoyable, 6= slightly unenjoyable, and 7= very unenjoyable
Measured: At baseline and after 12 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Jul 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2026
- Primary completion1 Jul 2026
- Study completion30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Adolescent Postural KyphosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Yassen Motamed Abd El Wahab, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07739082
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Yassen_Phd
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 31 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 31 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Virtual Reality on Kyphotic Angle and Quality of Life in Adolescents With Thoracic Hyperkyphosis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07739082
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Yassen_Phd
- Conditions
- Adolescent Postural Kyphosis, Thoracic Kyphosis
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The study aims to:
- Investigate the effect of virtual reality on kyphotic angle in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis.
- Investigate the effect of virtual reality on quality of life in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis.
- Investigate the effect of virtual reality on the enjoyment level in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis.
Detailed description
The adolescent period is marked by rapid physical changes that increase vulnerability to poor posture, potentially leading to chronic pain and spinal deformities in adulthood. High prevalence rates of incorrect posture (65%) necessitate early diagnosis and intervention, including suitable treatment and rehabilitation programs. Traditional physiotherapy techniques often struggle with adolescent engagement, prompting exploration of VR-based exercise therapy, which has demonstrated improved user adherence and effectiveness in addressing postural disorders. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of VR training on the kyphotic angle in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis, presenting a novel therapeutic strategy that enhances adherence among those resistant to conventional methods.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| conventional exercise program | Active comparator | Other: comprehensive corrective exercise programThe control group included 23 patients and received a comprehensive corrective exercise program for thoracic hyperkyphosis |
| Virtual reality-based posture training | Experimental | Other: comprehensive corrective exercise program, Device: Virtual reality-based posture trainingThe experimental group will receive the same program as the control group in addition to virtual reality-based posture training using Meta Quest 3 - a virtual reality headset with the Totally Basketball game. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 13 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Adolescents with a kyphosis angle >40°.
- Aged 13 to 18 years.
- Normal body mass index range
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Adolescents who cannot understand or follow instructions.
- Congenital spinal deformities.
- Developmental disorders.
- Adolescent athletes.
- Neurological, musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary diseases.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| comprehensive corrective exercise programtreatment will last for 40-50 minutes, 3 days a week for 12 weeks Exercises will include: * Chin tuck * Stretching of neck extensor muscles * Stretching of pectoral muscle groups in standing and supine positions * T, Y, W and I exercises in a prone position. * Postural perception training (PPT) * Thoracic self-mobilization | Other | Virtual reality-based posture training, conventional exercise program |
| Virtual reality-based posture trainingMeta Quest 3 is an Mixed Reality headset providing augmented reality and virtual reality capabilities, allowing users to engage in both physical and virtual environments. Participants will play the "Totally Basketball" game, which promotes upper body engagement and postural correction through movements focusing on cervical retraction, scapular stabilization, and thoracic extension. The virtual reality sessions will last 20 minutes, scheduled after 30 to 45 minutes of conventional exercises, three times a week for eight weeks. Each session includes an introduction to the headset, a safety briefing, supervised trials, and active gameplay aimed at addressing thoracic hyperkyphosis with physiotherapist oversight to ensure safety and proper technique. | Device | Virtual reality-based posture training |
Primary outcome
assessment of Kyphotic Angle
Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks
Kyphotic angle assessment using a bubble inclinometer involves the following steps: firstly, zero the inclinometer on a vertical wall. Next, identify the spinous processes of C7, T1, T12, and L1. Place the cephalic foot of the inclinometer on the C7 spinous process, then repeat for the lower thoracic spine with the caudal foot on T12. The kyphosis angle is calculated by adding the angles from both inclinometer placements.
2 secondary outcomes
assessment of Quality of Life
Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks
assessment of Participant Enjoyment
Time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 31 Jul 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing comprehensive corrective exercise program and Virtual reality-based posture training in people with Adolescent Postural Kyphosis and Thoracic Kyphosis, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Yassen Motamed Abd Elwahab, physical therapist (01119322806, yassenmotamed@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
assessment of Kyphotic Angle (time frame: At baseline and after 12 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Jul 2026.