Treating 'slouchy' (hyperkyphosis) posture with chiropractic biophysics®: a case report utilizing a multimodal mirror image® rehabilitation program.
Miles O Fortner, Paul A Oakley, Deed E Harrison
PMID 28878486WHAT IT FOUND
A 27-year-old woman with painful hyperkyphosis reported less pain and disability and had a smaller thoracic curve after 30 combined treatments: mirror image exercises, drop-table adjustments, traction, manipulation, heel lift, psoas work, ice and home care.
One case cannot separate components.
Key findings
01The patient reported 100% improvement in upper back pain and vertigo, 80% improvement in middle and lower back pain, and average low back pain of 2/10.
02Radiographic follow-up showed thoracic hyperkyphosis reduced from 67° to 55.4° and posterior thoracic translation changed from -51.4 mm to -3.7 mm.
03The patient received heel lift, mirror image exercises, drop-table adjustments, manipulation, psoas work, traction, ice, and home care together, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
A single case report can describe one person's course, not a treatment effect. The patient received many treatments together, so no single component can be credited. The authors acknowledge an accumulating evidence base and call for a case series and a clinical trial. Some pain, numbness, strength findings, and range-of-motion restrictions remained after treatment.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that mirror image exercises, traction, or chiropractic biophysics corrects hyperkyphosis. The patient received many treatments together, and this was one case with no control group. The authors say a case series and clinical trial are needed.