This article is part of the supplement: 4th International Conference on Conservative Management of Spinal Deformities .

Poster presentation

Reversal of curvature magnitude in response to physical methods: a 15-year followup in an adult female diagnosed with moderately severe scoliosis at age eleven years

William J Brooks^1,2 , Elizabeth A Krupinski³ and Martha C Hawes⁴

¹  Restorative Care Foundation, Kansas City, MO 64152, USA

²  Department of Osteopathic Principles and Practice, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA

³  Department of Radiology, Arizona Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721, USA

⁴  Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

author email corresponding author email

from 4th International Conference on Conservative Management of Spinal Deformities
Boston, MA, USA. 13–16 May 2007

Scoliosis 2007, 2(Suppl 1):P2doi:10.1186/1748-7161-2-S1-P2

The electronic version of this abstract is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.scoliosisjournal.com/content/2/S1/P2

Published:

12 October 2007

© 2007 Brooks et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Objective

To document improvement in curvature magnitude in moderately severe pediatric onset scoliosis, in an adult, without surgery.

Study design

An adult case report was monitored from age thirty-eight years through fifty-four years of age. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate change in magnitude of Cobb angle, based on values obtained by three independent readers, using full spine radiographs taken at four-year intervals.

Methods

A multimodal physical therapy approach included deep tissue massage and osteopathic manipulation, in combination with a daily home exercise program.

Results

Stable, progressive improvement in Cobb angle occurred over a fifteen-year period in response to physical methods. The improved curvature occurred in correlation with progressive improvement of chest wall morphology and excursion.

Conclusion

The forty percent (thoracic curve) and fifty percent (lumbar curve) reduction in curvature magnitude compares favorably with results from surgical intervention [1].

References

1. Bradford DS, Kay BKB, Hu SS: Adult scoliosis: surgical indications, operative management, complications and outcomes.

   Spine 1999 , 24:2617-2629. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text

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