• Harrison DD
• Harrison DE
• Oakley PA

• Association of Chiropractic Colleges / congresses

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the reduction of deformity in five patients with thoraco-lumbar scoliosis by application of the non-commutative property of finite rotation angles under addition to the spine, in a unique application of Chiropractic BioPhysics mirror image treatment methods.

METHODS: This study is a retrospective case series of 5 female patients with thoraco-lumbar scoliosis selected from a chiropractic clinic in Nevada. The cases include a 17 year-old, 19-year-old, 41 year-old , and 45 year-old presenting with chronic lower back pain, as well as a 35-year-old presenting with right-sided mid and low back pain following a motor vehicle accident 8 months previously. Depending on the postural analysis of each subject, two mirror image postural stress x-rays were taken by altering the orders for the combination of either lateral translation and lateral flexion, or lateral translation and axial rotation. The goal was to determine which order of postural movements (first using lateral translation followed by lateral flexion or axial rotation ; or lateral flexion or axial rotation first followed by lateral translation) showed the best reduction in scoliosis, as measured on the anterior to posterior (AP) lumbar view. Treatments of patient-specific mirror image exercises, adjustments, and traction were performed for various durations up to 108 treatments for one patient.

RESULTS:At final re-examination of case #1, the AP thoraco-lumbar scoliosis measured a right thoracic translation of -6mm (a 21mm change) and a reduced angle of 23„a from an initial 47¢X. The patient reported complete amelioration of her pain NRS=0. At final re-examination of case #2, the AP thoraco-lumbar scoliosis measured a right thoracic translation of 7mm (a 13mm improvement), a angle of 11„a (3¢X improvement), and right translation of T12-S1 of 8mm (a 12mm improvement). At final re-examination of case #3, it was found that the angle reduced to 11¢X (7¢X improvement) and the lateral translation to -1mm (10 mm improvement). At final re-examination of case #4, the AP thoraco-lumbar scoliosis measured a right thoracic translation of -10mm (a 4mm improvement), and an angle of -11„a (13¢X improvement). Pain and disability measures were significantly improved. At final re-examination of case #5, the AP thoraco-lumbar scoliosis measured a right thoracic translation of +10mm (a 12mm improvement), and an angle of +24„a (5¢X improvement). Pain and disability measures showed steady improvement and were significantly improved at final follow-up.

DISCUSSION: In a unique application, CBP mirror image methods resulted in significant reduction of scoliotic deformity in five cases with thoraco-lumbar scoliosis. The use of a postural translation to alter the orientation of the 3-dimensional spinal rotation angles might seem contradictory until one realizes the vertebral coupled movement is primarily lateral bending. The application of the non-commutative property of finite rotation angles under addition, as applied in these five cases, affords a more specific means to develop subject-specific, targeted structural rehabilitative procedures to stress the spine towards a more straightened configuration.

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher.