Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)AIS-EMGNCT07738588
Wireless EMG-Based Monitoring of Paraspinal Muscle Activation in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
A study testing Wireless Embedded Surface EMG (sEMG) Measurement System in people with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), run by Ertugrul Deniz Kose at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to develop and evaluate a wireless, non-invasive, embedded electromyography (EMG) system for monitoring paraspinal muscle activation asymmetries in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 10 to 18 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)
- What is being tested?
- Wireless Embedded Surface EMG (sEMG) Measurement System
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2026to 31 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 10 to 18 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
- Cobb angle between 10° and 25°
- No prior surgical or conservative treatment for scoliosis
Who cannot join
- Neurological disease
- Significant concomitant orthopedic problems
- Back pain severe enough to interfere with the measurement process
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Amasya University
Amasya, Amasya, 05100
Alpaslan Ersöz, Ph.D, +905312561935, alpaslan.ersoz@amasya.edu.tr
Alpaslan Ersöz, Ph.D
About this study
Official title: Design of a Wireless and Non-Invasive EMG-Based Embedded Measurement System for Monitoring Muscle Activation Asymmetries in Scoliosis
This study aims to develop and evaluate a wireless, non-invasive, embedded electromyography (EMG) system for monitoring paraspinal muscle activation asymmetries in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Surface EMG electrodes will be placed bilaterally around the apical vertebra of the spinal curve to record muscle activity during static (seated) and dynamic (trunk extension) tasks. Measurements will be taken longitudinally over the course of physiotherapy treatment to evaluate whether the recorded muscle activity patterns can serve as an objective, non-invasive indicator of treatment response, potentially reducing reliance on repeated radiographic (X-ray) follow-up.
Read the detailed description
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity typically diagnosed and monitored through radiographic assessment of the Cobb angle. While imaging remains the clinical gold standard, it involves radiation exposure and is typically performed at limited intervals, making it less suitable for frequent, short-term monitoring of treatment response. Prior research has shown that paraspinal muscle activation asymmetries - particularly increased convex-side activation near the apex of the curve - are consistently observed in AIS and may serve as early, objective markers of curve progression and treatment response, as demonstrated in prospective cohort and machine-learning-based studies.
This study will use a custom-developed, low-power, wireless, embedded surface EMG (sEMG) measurement system, consisting of skin-surface EMG electrodes, an analog front-end (AFE) for signal conditioning and digitization, and a microcontroller-based wireless communication module. EMG signals will be sampled at a minimum of 1000 Hz using a differential (bipolar) electrode configuration to minimize noise and common-mode interference.
Electrodes will be placed bilaterally on the paraspinal muscles at the level of the apical vertebra of the major spinal curve, approximately 3 cm lateral to the spinous process, oriented parallel to the muscle fibers. Standard skin preparation procedures (shaving, alcohol cleaning) will be used to reduce skin impedance prior to electrode placement.
EMG recordings will be performed under two task conditions: a static task, in which participants sit upright with hips and knees flexed at 90°, arms at their sides, and feet on the floor; and a dynamic task, in which participants perform active trunk extension in the prone position for a defined number of repetitions. These tasks are designed to capture both static postural and dynamic movement-related muscle activation patterns.
Recorded EMG signals will be processed to calculate root mean square (RMS) and mean absolute value (MAV) parameters, with frequency-domain (FFT) analysis performed as needed. Convex- and concave-side RMS values at each vertebral level will be used to derive muscle activation ratios and asymmetry indices. Measurements will be repeated at different time points over the course of physiotherapy treatment to evaluate longitudinal changes in muscle activation patterns, and associations between EMG-based indices and clinical treatment outcomes will be examined using appropriate statistical methods.
The study is being conducted in two phases: an initial technical validation phase, in which system performance is verified using commercial EMG sensor evaluation boards and microcontroller-based development platforms; and a subsequent phase in which a custom-designed wireless sEMG system (incorporating a proprietary analog front-end and embedded control unit) is evaluated for feasibility and usability in monitoring muscle activation patterns in scoliosis patients during physiotherapy. Only the human-subjects (clinical) component of this work is registered here; the underlying hardware/firmware engineering and bench validation are not within the scope of this trial record.
- Conditions
- Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)
- Being tested
- Wireless Embedded Surface EMG (sEMG) Measurement System
- Keywords
- Electromyography, Surface EMG, Paraspinal Muscles, Muscle Activation, Wireless Biosensor, Embedded Measurement System, Physiotherapy Monitoring
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Wireless Embedded Surface EMG (sEMG) Measurement SystemDevice
A custom-developed, low-power, wireless, non-invasive surface EMG system consisting of skin-surface electrodes, an analog front-end (AFE) for signal conditioning and digitization, and a microcontroller-based wireless communication module. Electrodes are placed bilaterally on the paraspinal muscles at the apical vertebra level, approximately 3 cm lateral to the spinous process. EMG signals are sampled at ≥1000 Hz using a differential (bipolar) configuration and analyzed for root mean square (RMS), mean absolute value (MAV), and frequency-domain (FFT) parameters to quantify muscle activation asymmetry between the convex and concave sides of the spinal curve.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Wireless EMG Monitoring | Experimental | All enrolled participants (adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, Cobb angle 10°-25°) will undergo surface EMG monitoring using the study's custom-developed wireless, embedded measurement system. Bilateral paraspinal EMG recordings will be obtained at the level of the apical vertebra during standardized static (seated) and dynamic (prone trunk extension) tasks. Measurements will be repeated at multiple time points over the course of each participant's physiotherapy treatment to longitudinally assess muscle activation asymmetry. Receives: Device: Wireless Embedded Surface EMG (sEMG) Measurement System |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Paraspinal Muscle Activation Asymmetry Index
An asymmetry index will be calculated from bilateral surface EMG RMS (root mean square) values recorded at the apical vertebra level during static and dynamic tasks, comparing convex- and concave-side paraspinal muscle activation. Change in this index over the course of treatment will be evaluated.
Measured: Baseline and through study completion, an average of 1 year
Secondary outcomes (2)
Correlation Between EMG-Based Muscle Activation Asymmetry Index and Clinical Treatment Outcome (Cobb Angle Change)
The relationship between change in EMG-derived muscle activation asymmetry and change in Cobb angle (measured via standard clinical radiography) will be evaluated using appropriate correlation analysis.
Measured: Baseline and through study completion, an average of 1 year
Device Signal Acquisition Success Rate
The proportion of EMG recording sessions in which signal quality meets predefined criteria for analysis (e.g., acceptable signal-to-noise ratio, no excessive artifact), assessing the technical feasibility of the wireless embedded measurement system in a clinical setting.
Measured: through study completion, an average of 1 year
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 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Aug 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)Studies 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
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- This is a single-group, non-randomized feasibility study. All enrolled participants (adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, Cobb angle 10°-25°) will undergo surface EMG monitoring using the study's wireless, embedded measurement system, with no comparison or control group. EMG recordings will be obtained under standardized static and dynamic tasks at baseline and repeated at multiple time points over the course of each participant's physiotherapy treatment, allowing within-subject, longitudinal evaluation of muscle activation asymmetry and its relationship to treatment response. The study is intended to establish technical feasibility and preliminary clinical utility of the measurement system rather than to test comparative treatment efficacy.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ertugrul Deniz Kose
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Ertugrul Deniz Kose, Hitit University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07738588
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Amasya Uni-EMG
- Acronym
- AIS-EMG
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 31 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared. EMG recordings, clinical assessment data (including Cobb angle measurements), and other study data will be stored securely and will be accessible only to the research team. Personal identifying information will be kept separate from the analysis dataset. Study findings will be reported in aggregate form in scientific publications, without disclosing any individual participant's identity or raw data.
Publications
Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Cheng JC, Danielsson A, Morcuende JA. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Lancet. 2008 May 3;371(9623):1527-37. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60658-3.
PubMed 18456103Liang R, Yip J, Fan Y, Cheung JPY, To KM. Electromyographic Analysis of Paraspinal Muscles of Scoliosis Patients Using Machine Learning Approaches. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 21;19(3):1177. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031177.
PubMed 35162203Fan Y, To MK, Yeung EHK, Kuang GM, Liang R, Cheung JPY. Electromyographic Discrepancy in Paravertebral Muscle Activity Predicts Early Curve Progression of Untreated Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. Asian Spine J. 2023 Oct;17(5):922-932. doi: 10.31616/asj.2023.0199. Epub 2023 Sep 11.
PubMed 37690987Chan WWY, Fu SN, Chong TF, Singh G, Tsai DSJ, Wong MCY, Zheng YP, Parent EC, Cheung JPY, Wong AYL. Associations between paraspinal muscle characteristics and spinal curvature in conservatively treated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review. Spine J. 2024 Apr;24(4):692-720. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2023.11.008. Epub 2023 Nov 24.
PubMed 38008187
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
- Design of a Wireless and Non-Invasive EMG-Based Embedded Measurement System for Monitoring Muscle Activation Asymmetries in Scoliosis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07738588
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AIS-EMG / Amasya Uni-EMG
- Conditions
- Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)
- Keywords
- Electromyography, Surface EMG, Paraspinal Muscles, Muscle Activation, Wireless Biosensor, Embedded Measurement System, Physiotherapy Monitoring
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Ertugrul Deniz KoseUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2028 (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.
This study aims to develop and evaluate a wireless, non-invasive, embedded electromyography (EMG) system for monitoring paraspinal muscle activation asymmetries in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Surface EMG electrodes will be placed bilaterally around the apical vertebra of the spinal curve to record muscle activity during static (seated) and dynamic (trunk extension) tasks. Measurements will be taken longitudinally over the course of physiotherapy treatment to evaluate whether the recorded muscle activity patterns can serve as an objective, non-invasive indicator of treatment response, potentially reducing reliance on repeated radiographic (X-ray) follow-up.
Detailed description
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity typically diagnosed and monitored through radiographic assessment of the Cobb angle. While imaging remains the clinical gold standard, it involves radiation exposure and is typically performed at limited intervals, making it less suitable for frequent, short-term monitoring of treatment response. Prior research has shown that paraspinal muscle activation asymmetries - particularly increased convex-side activation near the apex of the curve - are consistently observed in AIS and may serve as early, objective markers of curve progression and treatment response, as demonstrated in prospective cohort and machine-learning-based studies.
This study will use a custom-developed, low-power, wireless, embedded surface EMG (sEMG) measurement system, consisting of skin-surface EMG electrodes, an analog front-end (AFE) for signal conditioning and digitization, and a microcontroller-based wireless communication module. EMG signals will be sampled at a minimum of 1000 Hz using a differential (bipolar) electrode configuration to minimize noise and common-mode interference.
Electrodes will be placed bilaterally on the paraspinal muscles at the level of the apical vertebra of the major spinal curve, approximately 3 cm lateral to the spinous process, oriented parallel to the muscle fibers. Standard skin preparation procedures (shaving, alcohol cleaning) will be used to reduce skin impedance prior to electrode placement.
EMG recordings will be performed under two task conditions: a static task, in which participants sit upright with hips and knees flexed at 90°, arms at their sides, and feet on the floor; and a dynamic task, in which participants perform active trunk extension in the prone position for a defined number of repetitions. These tasks are designed to capture both static postural and dynamic movement-related muscle activation patterns.
Recorded EMG signals will be processed to calculate root mean square (RMS) and mean absolute value (MAV) parameters, with frequency-domain (FFT) analysis performed as needed. Convex- and concave-side RMS values at each vertebral level will be used to derive muscle activation ratios and asymmetry indices. Measurements will be repeated at different time points over the course of physiotherapy treatment to evaluate longitudinal changes in muscle activation patterns, and associations between EMG-based indices and clinical treatment outcomes will be examined using appropriate statistical methods.
The study is being conducted in two phases: an initial technical validation phase, in which system performance is verified using commercial EMG sensor evaluation boards and microcontroller-based development platforms; and a subsequent phase in which a custom-designed wireless sEMG system (incorporating a proprietary analog front-end and embedded control unit) is evaluated for feasibility and usability in monitoring muscle activation patterns in scoliosis patients during physiotherapy. Only the human-subjects (clinical) component of this work is registered here; the underlying hardware/firmware engineering and bench validation are not within the scope of this trial record.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- This is a single-group, non-randomized feasibility study. All enrolled participants (adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, Cobb angle 10°-25°) will undergo surface EMG monitoring using the study's wireless, embedded measurement system, with no comparison or control group. EMG recordings will be obtained under standardized static and dynamic tasks at baseline and repeated at multiple time points over the course of each participant's physiotherapy treatment, allowing within-subject, longitudinal evaluation of muscle activation asymmetry and its relationship to treatment response. The study is intended to establish technical feasibility and preliminary clinical utility of the measurement system rather than to test comparative treatment efficacy.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Wireless EMG Monitoring | Experimental | Device: Wireless Embedded Surface EMG (sEMG) Measurement SystemAll enrolled participants (adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, Cobb angle 10°-25°) will undergo surface EMG monitoring using the study's custom-developed wireless, embedded measurement system. Bilateral paraspinal EMG recordings will be obtained at the level of the apical vertebra during standardized static (seated) and dynamic (prone trunk extension) tasks. Measurements will be repeated at multiple time points over the course of each participant's physiotherapy treatment to longitudinally assess muscle activation asymmetry. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 10 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
- Cobb angle between 10° and 25°
- No prior surgical or conservative treatment for scoliosis
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Neurological disease
- Significant concomitant orthopedic problems
- Back pain severe enough to interfere with the measurement process
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless Embedded Surface EMG (sEMG) Measurement SystemA custom-developed, low-power, wireless, non-invasive surface EMG system consisting of skin-surface electrodes, an analog front-end (AFE) for signal conditioning and digitization, and a microcontroller-based wireless communication module. Electrodes are placed bilaterally on the paraspinal muscles at the apical vertebra level, approximately 3 cm lateral to the spinous process. EMG signals are sampled at ≥1000 Hz using a differential (bipolar) configuration and analyzed for root mean square (RMS), mean absolute value (MAV), and frequency-domain (FFT) parameters to quantify muscle activation asymmetry between the convex and concave sides of the spinal curve. | Device | Experimental: Wireless EMG Monitoring |
Primary outcome
Change in Paraspinal Muscle Activation Asymmetry Index
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion, an average of 1 year
An asymmetry index will be calculated from bilateral surface EMG RMS (root mean square) values recorded at the apical vertebra level during static and dynamic tasks, comparing convex- and concave-side paraspinal muscle activation. Change in this index over the course of treatment will be evaluated.
2 secondary outcomes
Correlation Between EMG-Based Muscle Activation Asymmetry Index and Clinical Treatment Outcome (Cobb Angle Change)
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion, an average of 1 year
Device Signal Acquisition Success Rate
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
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.
- Background: PubMed 18456103Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Cheng JC, Danielsson A, Morcuende JA. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Lancet. 2008 May 3;371(9623):1527-37. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60658-3.
- Background: PubMed 35162203Liang R, Yip J, Fan Y, Cheung JPY, To KM. Electromyographic Analysis of Paraspinal Muscles of Scoliosis Patients Using Machine Learning Approaches. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 21;19(3):1177. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031177.
- Background: PubMed 37690987Fan Y, To MK, Yeung EHK, Kuang GM, Liang R, Cheung JPY. Electromyographic Discrepancy in Paravertebral Muscle Activity Predicts Early Curve Progression of Untreated Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. Asian Spine J. 2023 Oct;17(5):922-932. doi: 10.31616/asj.2023.0199. Epub 2023 Sep 11.
- Background: PubMed 38008187Chan WWY, Fu SN, Chong TF, Singh G, Tsai DSJ, Wong MCY, Zheng YP, Parent EC, Cheung JPY, Wong AYL. Associations between paraspinal muscle characteristics and spinal curvature in conservatively treated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review. Spine J. 2024 Apr;24(4):692-720. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2023.11.008. Epub 2023 Nov 24.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared. EMG recordings, clinical assessment data (including Cobb angle measurements), and other study data will be stored securely and will be accessible only to the research team. Personal identifying information will be kept separate from the analysis dataset. Study findings will be reported in aggregate form in scientific publications, without disclosing any individual participant's identity or raw data.
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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 Wireless Embedded Surface EMG (sEMG) Measurement System in people with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), run by Ertugrul Deniz Kose at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 3 inclusion and 3 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: opening soon, 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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 Alpaslan Ersöz, Ph.D (+905312561935, alpaslan.ersoz@amasya.edu.tr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Paraspinal Muscle Activation Asymmetry Index (time frame: Baseline and through study completion, an average of 1 year). 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 NCT07738588, which also lists 4 linked publications.
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.