QUESTION: In adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, does combined aerobic and resistance training improve respiratory function, perceived exertion and functional exercise capacity more than aerobic training only? DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial with concealed allocation, blinded assessors and intention-to-treat analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Forty adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and formal indication for surgical correction (spinal curvature >= 45 degrees). INTERVENTION: Both groups undertook three 60-minute training sessions per week for 12 weeks. The experimental group performed combined aerobic and resistance training and the control group performed only aerobic training. OUTCOME MEASURES: At baseline and upon completion of treatment, participants completed: a 6-minute walk test with Borg scale (0 to 10) rating of exertion, spirometry, maximal respiratory pressures and peak expiratory flow measurement. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of training, the experimental group improved more than the control group on the 6-minute walk test (MD 22 m, 95% CI 4 to 40), with lower perceived exertion at the end of the test (MD -1.2, 95% CI -1.9 to -0.4). The experimental group also improved more than the control group on several respiratory measures, including: FEV1 (MD 270 ml, 95% CI 30 to 510), maximal inspiratory pressure (MD 4 cmH2O, 95% CI 1 to 8) and peak expiratory flow (MD 33 l/minute, 95% CI 7 to 58). CONCLUSION: In adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, combined aerobic and resistance training improves functional exercise capacity and several respiratory outcomes more than a similar training regimen with aerobic training only. It is unclear whether the magnitude of the benefits is large enough to be worthwhile. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02413788.

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