Reversing thoracic hyperkyphosis: a case report featuring mirror image® thoracic extension rehabilitation.
Jason E Miller, Paul A Oakley, Scott B Levin and 1 others
PMID 28744061WHAT IT FOUND
A 15-year-old with thoracic hyperkyphosis and pain had reduced thoracic curvature and changed posture measurements after a 13-month multimodal program of exercises, traction, and manipulation.
She reported 80-100% improvement. This case report cannot show the treatment works.
Key findings
01After 94 treatments over 13 months, thoracic hyperkyphosis decreased from 71.3° to 54.3°, forward head posture from 35.6 mm to 28.8 mm, and posterior thoracic translation from -59.2 mm to +4.9 mm.
02The patient reported 80-100% improvement in all initial health complaints; low back pain was 2-4/10, and mid back and rib and chest pain was 1-2/10.
03The patient received mirror image corrective exercises, spinal traction, and spinal manipulation together, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
This is a case report of a 15-year-old female, so it cannot establish that the treatment works. The patient received mirror image corrective exercises, spinal traction, and spinal manipulation together, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The supplied text does not describe a control group, randomisation, blinding, or comparison with usual care. The authors state there is limited clinical evidence for non-surgical reduction of pathologic thoracic hyperkyphosis, and that trials of non-surgical approaches have been small and short. No long-term follow-up after the 13-month treatment period is reported.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not include a funding or conflicts of interest statement. It names commercial systems: PostureRay, PowerPlate, and SRBrace/Circular traction.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that mirror image exercises, traction, or manipulation reversed the thoracic hyperkyphosis or relieved pain. This was a single patient who received these treatments together, and the report gives no comparison group.