Treating ‘slouchy’ (hyperkyphosis) posture with chiropractic biophysics^®: a case report utilizing a multimodal mirror image^® rehabilitation program

Abstract

[Purpose] To present a case of the non-surgical reduction of ‘slouchy’ hyperkyphosis posture utilizing the multimodal Chiropractic BioPhysics® rehabilitation program emphasizing the mirror image® concept. [Subject and Methods] A 27-year-old female presented suffering from neck and back pains, headaches and gait dysfunction. The patient was treated 30 times over a period of 6-months. Treatment consisted of anterior thoracic translation, thoracic extension, and head retraction exercises as well as spinal traction and spinal manipulation. [Results] After 6-months of treatment the patient displayed a total correction of the posterior thoracic translation with a significant reduction in thoracic hyperkyphosis. The dramatic correction of her overall posture and spine alignment corresponded to the significant relief of neck and back pains, headaches and improvement of various other health issues as demonstrated by self-report and SF-36. [Conclusion] Poor postures corresponding to poor health can be changed for the better with multimodal rehabilitation programs that are now showing consistent postural improvements corresponding with improvements in various health conditions. We suggest that the postural correction of those with various pain symptoms be considered as a first line non-pharmalogical, non-surgical rehabilitation approach for those presenting with poor posture.

Relief of exertional dyspnea and spinal pains by increasing the thoracic kyphosis in straight back syndrome (thoracic hypo-kyphosis) using CBP^® methods: a case report with long-term follow-up

“…Considering the lack of literature on SBS disorder and the even greater lack of evidence of nonsurgical correction of this disorder 13 ) , this case reveals that a posture-specific intensive program of mirror image directed traction, exercises, and adjustments may be successful in correcting thoracic hypokyphosis in a subgroup of SBS cases. Several recent reports have revealed that Harrison’s mirror image approach to postural disorders are successful at correcting many postural faults including lumbar hypolordosis 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ) , cervical hypolordosis 27 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ) , and thoracic hyperkyphosis 36 , 37 , 38 ) .…”

Radiophobia: 7 Reasons Why Radiography Used in Spine and Posture Rehabilitation Should Not Be Feared or Avoided

“…The common X-ray is an essential tool for doctors and manual therapists in the treatment of musculoskeletal and neuromusculoskeletal diseases and conditions associated with poor posture and spinal deformity. 1 – 10 There has been an ever-expanding evidence base substantiating the effectiveness of nonsurgical rehabilitative methods for the treatment of posture and spinal deformities, such as forward head posture, 11 – 20 cervical hypolordosis/kyphosis, 14 – 21 thoracic hyperkyphosis, 22 – 29 thoracic hypokyphosis, 30 , 31 lumbar hypolordosis/kyphosis, 32 – 37 and scoliosis. 38 – 41 …”

“…The common radiograph is an invaluable tool that will continue to be a “go to” procedure to assess and monitor treatment effects related to improving posture with contemporary treatment approaches. 11 – 41 There are, however, many fears concerning the exposure of radiation (ie, radiophobia), particularly for the acquisition of diagnostic medical X-rays (including computed tomography [CT] scans). 42 – 47 …”

The CBP^® mirror image^® approach to reducing thoracic hyperkyphosis: a retrospective case series of 10 patients

“…The same SOSORT consensus paper (2010) 31 ) stated that there is “no sound scientific data available” on effective non-surgical, conservative treatments for thoracic hyperkyphosis. Although this consensus is now dated, there are emerging conservative treatment options that show initial evidence of hyperkyphosis reduction; these include: 32 , 33 ) exercise, manual therapy, spinal orthosis, ‘practiced normal posture,’ taping, and more recently, thoracic extension traction 34 , 35 , 36 ) .…”

“…To our knowledge, there have been only three single case reports and one case series (n=3) on the reduction of thoracic hyperkyphosis by extension traction reported in the literature 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ) . In these cases, thoracic extension traction was combined with extension exercises and spinal manipulative therapy (SMT).…”