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Effects of Exercise Therapy on Pectus Carinatum

Not Applicable
Conditions
Pectus Carinatum
Interventions
Other: Exercise
Registration Number
NCT04167800
Lead Sponsor
Acibadem University
Brief Summary

Pectus Carinatum (PC); deformity in which the front wall of the chest protrudes forward. Non-invasive treatment approaches for PC include compression orthosis and exercises that target the deformity itself and concurrent postural impairment and scoliosis. In addition, the formation of muscles can help close the deformity. Although exercise training is recommended, there is no randomized study showing its effectiveness in the literature. Therefore, in our study, the investigators aimed to investigate the effectiveness of exercise therapy in addition to compression orthotics.

Detailed Description

A chest wall deformity is a structural abnormality of the chest that can range from mild to severe. Chest wall deformities occur when the cartilage that connects the ribs grows unevenly. It is not clear why this happens, but the condition tends to run in families. The two most common types of chest wall deformity are Pectus excavatum and Pectus carinatum, Pectus carinatum goes far beyond a simple esthetical problem. It can be responsible of physical signs and symptoms and also has significant psychological impact. Defects tend to worsen during pubertal growth spurts and even during adult life. Recent evidence shows that these patients are at risk for a disturbed body image and reduced quality of life and many patients refer feelings of discomfort, shame, shyness, anxiety, anguish, and even depression, which can lead to social isolation. Chest pain or discomfort, especially when lying in prone position, intolerance to physical exercise, scoliosis, impaired shoulders and kyphotic position are some of the physical signs and symptoms.Non-invasive treatment approaches for PC include compression orthosis and exercises that target the deformity itself and concurrent postural impairment and scoliosis. In addition, the formation of muscles can help close the deformity. Most evidence of non-invasive treatment is retrospective or prospective case series. In a prospective case series, patients were instructed to perform chest wall strengthening exercises, but the effects of the exercises were not investigated . Although, exercise training is recommended, there is no randomized study showing its effectiveness in the literature. Therefore, in our study, the investigators aimed to investigate the effectiveness of exercise therapy in addition to compression orthotics.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
10
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients diagnosed with PC by doctor and indicated for the first time orthotic use
  • A correction pressure of less than 10 pounds per square inch in the compression test
  • 10-18 years old,
  • Discontented with this deformity
Exclusion Criteria
  • Previous orthosis use
  • Severe scoliosis (Cobb angle above 20 degrees)
  • Having chronic systemic disease
  • Having serious psychiatric illness
  • Having complex mixed pectus deformity

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Exercise GroupExerciseIn addition to the applications to the first group, mobilization, strengthening, posture and segmental breathing exercises will be given . All of these exercises will be combined with segmental breathing exercises depending on the location of the PC. Exercise therapy will be administered by a physiotherapist with 20 years of experience once a week and will be designed as a home program on the remaining days and will be asked to do 45 minutes twice a day (at least 4 times a week). The patient's relatives will be asked to keep a book to monitor the exercise. Patients who do not perform 5 consecutive exercise sessions will be excluded from the study. All treatments will be given for 12 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pectus severity indexChange from Pectus severity index at 12 weeks

Thorax-caliper measurement: Pectus severity index (T.I.): (T3/T1) \* 100 (%), T1: upper edge of the manubrium, T2: Angulus Ludovici, T3: deepest point of the funnel chest, Pectus carinatum: T.I. \> 140.

Chest anthropometric measurement-1Change from baseline the extent of maximal protrusion at 12 weeks

The extent of maximal protrusion:distance from the point of maximum protrusion to the estimated normal level of chest wall (milimeter).

patient's perception of deformityChange from patient's perception of deformity at 12 weeks

patient's perception of deformity (0-10): The subject's self-perception of pectus carinatum was obtained through self-report using a scale from 0 (worst self-perception of pectus carinatum) to 10 (best self-perception of pectus carinatum).

Global Rating of Change Scorethrough study completion, an average of 12 weeks

The responses for the Global Rating of Change Score is"much better (2)"; "slightly better(1)"; "stayed the same (0)";"slightly worse (-1)" or "much worse (-2)".

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The Nuss Questionnaire modified for Adults (Parent Form)Change from baseline score of The Nuss Questionnaire modified for Adults (Parent Form) at 12 weeks

Disease-specific health-related quality of life assessment tool for patients with pectus parent. The parent version of the NQ-mA includes 11 items, scored 1 to 4. Possible minimum and maximum scores are 11 and 44 in the parent form; higher scores indicate a better quality of life.

Chest anthropometric measurement-3Change from baseline lateral length at 12 weeks

Lateral length: length of protruding zone, again measured through the point of maximum protrusion in the transverse direction

Chest anthropometric measurement-2Change from baseline craniocaudal length at 12 weeks

Craniocaudal length: craniocaudal length of protruding zone, measured through the point of maximal protrusion

New York Posture Rating Chart for posture assessmentChange from baseline score of New York Posture Rating Chart at 12 weeks

The scores of the remaining 10 body alignment segments are summed, allowing a range ofoverall score between 0 and 100, with a score of 100 representing ideal posture

The Nuss Questionnaire modified for Adults (Patient Form)Change from baseline score of The Nuss Questionnaire modified for Adults (Patient Form) at 12 weeks

Disease-specific health-related quality of life assessment tool for patients with pectus The patient version of the NQ-mA includes 12 items, scored 1 to 4. Possible minimum and maximum scores are 12 and 48 in the patient form; higher scores indicate a better quality of life.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

🇹🇷

Istanbul, Ataşehir, Turkey

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