Development, AdolescentNCT07379801
The Musculoskeletal System During Puberty in Dancers With Scoliosis, and the Effect of an Exercise Program
A study testing exercise in people with Development, Adolescent, run by University of Haifa at 1 site in Israel.
Trial summary
assessment of the musculoskeletal system will be performed twice a year, for three years of young dancers Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 11 to 16 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Development, Adolescent
- What is being tested?
- exercise
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 140 participants
- Where
- 1 siteIsrael
- Study dates
- 30 Jan 2026to 30 Aug 2028
- 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 11 to 16 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- Dancers who are taking medications, are not in good health, have underlying medical conditions, or have undergone any orthopedic surgery.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Israel1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Haifa University, Department of PHysical Therapy
Haifa
Gali Dar, PhD, 972-50-5662054, galidar@yahoo.com
About this study
assessment of the musculoskeletal system will be performed twice a year, for three years of young dancers
Read the 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.
- Conditions
- Development, Adolescent
- Being tested
- exercise
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
exerciseOther
exercise for strengthening core muscles
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| excercise | Experimental | exercises for strengthening Receives: Other: exercise |
| control | No intervention | regular activity |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
ultrasound for muscle thickness
ultrasound assessment of back and abdominal muscles in rest and contraction - thickness in mm
Measured: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
muscle strength test
hand held dynamometer assessment hip muscles
Measured: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
range of motion
goniometer assessment for lower extremities joints
Measured: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
bone strength
tibia bone strength assessment using Sunlight MiniOmni Ultrasound Bone Sonometer
Measured: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
maturation status
Tanner scale 0-5 scale. higher score represent greater maturation status
Measured: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
scoliosis
Adam's tests and scoliometer
Measured: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
flexibility
Beighton score. 0-9 scale when higher score represent hyper flexibility
Measured: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Jan 2026
- Study start30 Jan 2026
- Primary completion30 Aug 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Aug 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Development, AdolescentStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- 2 groups - dancers with scoliosis will be randomly assigned to either a three-month targeted exercise program or a control group continuing regular training.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Haifa
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Gali Dar, University of Haifa
- Investigators
- Gali Dar, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Haifa
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07379801
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 034/26
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 3 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: De-identified individual participant data will be shared with other researchers upon reasonable request and in coordination with the principal investigator, subject to ethical approval and data use agreements.
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.
PubMed 40594709
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Musculoskeletal System During Puberty in Dancers With Scoliosis, and the Effect of an Exercise Program
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07379801
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 034/26
- Conditions
- Development, Adolescent
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of HaifaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Aug 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Aug 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Jan 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.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- 2 groups - dancers with scoliosis will be randomly assigned to either a three-month targeted exercise program or a control group continuing regular training.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| excercise | Experimental | Other: exerciseexercises for strengthening |
| control | No intervention | –regular activity |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 11 to 16 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Dancers who are taking medications, are not in good health, have underlying medical conditions, or have undergone any orthopedic surgery.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| exerciseexercise for strengthening core muscles | Other | excercise |
Primary outcome
ultrasound for muscle thickness
Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
ultrasound assessment of back and abdominal muscles in rest and contraction - thickness in mm
muscle strength test
Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
hand held dynamometer assessment hip muscles
range of motion
Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
goniometer assessment for lower extremities joints
bone strength
Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
tibia bone strength assessment using Sunlight MiniOmni Ultrasound Bone Sonometer
maturation status
Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
Tanner scale 0-5 scale. higher score represent greater maturation status
scoliosis
Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
Adam's tests and scoliometer
flexibility
Time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years
Beighton score. 0-9 scale when higher score represent hyper flexibility
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 3 Feb 2026.
- Background: PubMed 40594709Dar 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.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. De-identified individual participant data will be shared with other researchers upon reasonable request and in coordination with the principal investigator, subject to ethical approval and data use agreements.
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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.
Gali Dar, PhD principal investigator
University of Haifa
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing exercise in people with Development, Adolescent, run by University of Haifa at 1 site in Israel.
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 5 inclusion and 1 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 3 Feb 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 Israel. 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 Gali Dar, PhD (972505662054, gdar@univ.haifa.ac.il), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
ultrasound for muscle thickness (time frame: baseline, twice a year for 2 years). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07379801, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 3 Feb 2026.