Effects of Progressive Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises Versus Aerobic Exercises on Body Composition and Postural Balance in Children With Obesity

Detailed Study Description Background

Childhood obesity is a major global public health concern associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including metabolic, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal disorders. Beyond these well-recognized complications, obesity negatively affects postural control, balance, motor performance, and functional movement capacity. Excess body weight alters biomechanical alignment, shifts the center of gravity, and impairs neuromuscular coordination, thereby increasing postural instability and reducing participation in physical activity. Consequently, children with obesity often develop a sedentary lifestyle, which further exacerbates obesity and its associated health risks.

Aerobic exercise is widely recommended as a first-line intervention for childhood obesity because of its well-established benefits in improving cardiovascular fitness, energy expenditure, body composition, and overall physical health. However, aerobic exercise alone may not sufficiently address deficits in neuromuscular control, postural stability, and core muscle function, which are common in children with obesity.

Progressive Neuromuscular Stabilization (PNS) exercises are based on the principles of developmental kinesiology and progressive motor control training. These exercises aim to improve postural alignment, enhance core stability, optimize neuromuscular coordination, and restore efficient movement patterns through progressively challenging stabilization tasks. Recent evidence suggests that neuromuscular stabilization exercises may improve balance, postural control, movement quality, and functional performance in pediatric populations. Nevertheless, evidence regarding their effectiveness in children with obesity remains limited.

In addition, adherence to long-term exercise programs represents one of the greatest challenges in pediatric obesity management. Technology-assisted exercise interventions delivered through mobile applications may increase exercise adherence by providing structured guidance, visual demonstrations, progressive exercise progression, and continuous motivation. Therefore, integrating technology-supported home exercise programs with supervised clinical sessions may improve treatment compliance and maximize intervention effectiveness.

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of technology-assisted Progressive Neuromuscular Stabilization exercises and conventional aerobic exercise on balance, postural control, body composition, functional performance, and quality of life in children with obesity.

Methods

This study will be conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, among children referred to the pediatric obesity outpatient clinic. Participants meeting the eligibility criteria will be invited to participate after obtaining written informed consent from their parents or legal guardians and assent from the children.

Children aged 12 to 18 years who are classified as obese according to age- and sex-specific criteria will be enrolled. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned using age- and sex-stratified block randomization into one of three study groups:

Progressive Neuromuscular Stabilization (PNS) Exercise Group Aerobic Exercise (AE) Group Control Group

Both intervention groups will participate in a 12-week exercise program, attending supervised clinical exercise sessions twice weekly. Each session will last approximately 40 minutes, including:

5 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of the main exercise program, 5 minutes of cool-down exercises.

In addition to supervised sessions, participants in both intervention groups will perform home-based exercises on the remaining weekdays. Home exercise programs will be delivered through the BeCure® mobile application, where exercise videos prepared specifically for each intervention will be uploaded. Participants will be instructed to complete progressively advancing exercise programs each week. Exercise adherence will be monitored through the mobile application, and participants will receive regular follow-up to encourage compliance.

The PNS intervention will consist of progressively challenging exercises targeting diaphragmatic breathing, trunk stabilization, neuromuscular coordination, developmental movement patterns, proprioception, balance, and postural control. Exercise difficulty will increase throughout the intervention by incorporating unstable surfaces, resistance, dual-task activities, and functional movement progression.

The aerobic exercise program will include age-appropriate rhythmic and functional aerobic activities such as walking, stepping, dynamic movement games, and interval-based exercises. Exercise intensity will be progressively increased according to participants' functional capacity throughout the intervention.

Participants allocated to the control group will receive a single standardized exercise counseling session that includes recommendations regarding healthy lifestyle habits and physical activity but will not participate in the supervised exercise intervention.

Outcome assessments will be performed at baseline and immediately after completion of the 12-week intervention period by assessors blinded to group allocation whenever possible.

Sample Size

Sample size was calculated using G*Power version 3.1 based on previously published findings (Lengkana et al., 2019). Assuming a medium effect size (f = 0.30), a significance level of α = 0.05, and a statistical power of 95% (1-β = 0.95), repeated-measures ANOVA with three groups and two assessment time points required a minimum total sample size of 48 participants. Considering potential dropouts during the intervention, the final planned sample size is 54 participants.

Primary Outcome

The primary outcome of the study is balance and postural control, which will be assessed using the Biodex Balance System. Static and dynamic postural stability indices, including the Overall Stability Index (OSI), Anterior-Posterior Stability Index (APSI), and Medial-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI), will be recorded.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary outcome measures include:

Body composition Body Mass Index (BMI) Waist circumference Triceps skinfold thickness Subscapular skinfold thickness Body fat percentage measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) Core muscle endurance Prone Plank Test Side Plank Test Functional performance 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) 30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test 20-Meter Shuttle Run Test Physical activity level Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) Self-perception and body image Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC) Health-related quality of life Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Fatigue Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue Scale Postural assessment New York Posture Rating Scale Expected Significance

This study will provide evidence regarding the comparative effectiveness of technology-assisted Progressive Neuromuscular Stabilization exercises and conventional aerobic exercise in children with obesity. The findings may contribute to the development of more comprehensive rehabilitation strategies that not only improve body composition but also enhance balance, postural control, neuromuscular function, functional capacity, and exercise adherence. Furthermore, integrating mobile application-based home exercise programs into pediatric obesity rehabilitation may offer a practical and sustainable approach for increasing long-term participation in physical activity and improving treatment outcomes.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 12 to 18 years
• Classified as having Class I obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥95th percentile and <120% of the 95th percentile for age and sex) or Class II obesity (BMI ≥120% and <140% of the 95th percentile for age and sex), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) age- and sex-specific growth charts.
• Able to maintain a single-leg stance on the non-dominant leg with eyes closed for less than 30 seconds.
• Written informed consent provided by a parent or legal guardian, and assent obtained from the participant.
• Willing and able to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Classified as having Class III obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥140% of the 95th percentile for age and sex).
• Presence of an orthopedic condition that would prevent participation in the exercise program.
• History of any injury or surgery within the previous 6 months.
• Presence of a chronic neurological disorder.
• Presence of a psychiatric disorder.
• Presence of a severe cognitive impairment.
• Presence of cardiovascular disease.