Nonsurgical correction of straight back syndrome (thoracic hypokyphosis), increased lung capacity and resolution of exertional dyspnea by thoracic hyperkyphosis mirror image® traction: a CBP® case report.
Jeffrey R Mitchell, Paul A Oakley, Deed E Harrison
PMID 29200656WHAT IT FOUND
A man with straight back syndrome gained 10 degrees of thoracic curve and increased lung capacity from 2.5 to 4.77 litres after 36 traction sessions.
Symptoms improved but returned mildly at 11 months. This describes one person, not a proven treatment.
Key findings
01Thoracic kyphosis increased by 10 degrees and lung capacity rose from 2.5 litres to 4.77 litres after 36 treatments.
02The patient reported complete resolution of chest pain and significant reduction in other pains at the end of treatment.
03At 11-month follow-up, the curve improvement and lung capacity gains were maintained, but chest pain returned as mild and occasional.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This is a single case report, so it cannot establish that the treatment works for others. The patient received multiple interventions simultaneously (traction, instrument adjusting, and specific exercises), making it impossible to determine which component caused the improvement. Symptoms and pain scores worsened slightly at the 11-month follow-up compared to the immediate post-treatment results. The study was not controlled, and there was no comparison group to assess natural history or placebo effects.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this traction protocol will correct straight back syndrome or resolve dyspnea in other patients. This is a single case where multiple treatments were given together, and the specific contribution of traction cannot be separated from the exercises or manual therapy.