Alleviation of chronic spine pain and headaches by reducing forward head posture and thoracic hyperkyphosis: a CBP^® case report

Abstract

[Purpose] This case presents the reduction of both forward head posture and thoracic hyperkyphosis in a young male with chronic back pain and headaches by a comprehensive posture rehabilitation program as a part of Chiropractic BioPhysics® methods. [Participant and Methods] A 32 year old male presented with constant pain and headaches for seven years since he was involved in a work related injury. He had seen five different MDs, undergone multiple imaging tests, and received multiple prescriptions, thirteen steroid injections and was recommended for a spine surgery that he had denied. He was on long-term disability. Upon comprehensive posture and spine assessment, the patient had exaggerated forward head translation and thoracic hyperkyphosis. The patient was treated 36 times over 13-weeks with cervical and thoracic extension exercises, traction, and manipulation. [Results] After treatment the patient reported dramatic improvement in symptoms as indicated on valid disability questionnaires and substantial improvements in posture. [Conclusion] Posture-related pain and disability is not often addressed in allopathic medicine but substantial posture improvements are achievable in short time periods as this case illustrates. Poor postures in young patients should be corrected to avoid long-term consequences. Radiography as used in spinal rehabilitation is safe and reliable.

Plain Radiography: A Unique Component of Spinal Assessment and Predictive Health

“…Conservative practitioners trained in the correction of altered sagittal spinal balance have also shown success in the correction of cervical lordosis and forward head posture, thus improving balance, dizziness, radicular symptoms, headaches, and neck pain in many cases [ 30 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 86 , 88 , 90 , 91 , 94 , 98 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 ]. Moustafa et al found that in patients with chronic discogenic lumbosacral radiculopathy, the addition of forward head posture correction to a functional restoration program showed a positive effect on disability, 3-dimensional spinal posture parameters, back/leg pain, and S1 nerve root function [ 147 ].…”

Examining Clinical Opinion and Experience Regarding Utilization of Plain Radiography of the Spine: Evidence from Surveying the Chiropractic Profession

“…It is important to note that the literature also suggests that many of these radiographic parameters such as sagittal cervical spinal alignment and posture can be corrected with conservative care and these corrections can be corelated with improved function and health outcomes [ 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 ]. Other studies indicate that conservative care can result in radiographic changes to sagittal lumbar spinal alignment and posture, which is correlated with improved pain scores and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) [ 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 ].…”

The many faces of forward head posture: the importance of differential diagnosis

“…However, there is also evidence that suggests FHP has a negative effect on respiration and diaphragm function, which suggests that, instead of FHP acting as a compensation, the actual FHP cervical spine positioning is problematic [11,41]. From a chiropractic perspective, there are studies that find that correcting a patient's FHP reduces pain and improves function [14,42]. Additionally, Katz et al note from their pre-and post-MRA case series (n = 7) that correction of a subject's FHP "may be associated with an immediate increase in cerebral blood flow [43].…”