• Underhill ML
• Oakley PA
• Harrison DE

• Adolescent
• Clinical Biomechanics of Posture
• Kyphosis
• Male
• Neck Pain
• Post-Traumatic Headache
• Whiplash Injuries

Objective: To describe the management of an adolescent male with chronic neck pain, headaches, and cervical kyphosis following a motor vehicle collision (MVC) injury.

Clinical Features: A 13-year-old male involved in a rear-impact MVC developed chronic neck pain, headache, and dizziness. The patient was diagnosed with cervical strain/sprain injury and vertebral subluxation. He was initially managed with Diversified and Cranial-Sacral techniques over the course of the first year but received only transient symptomatic reduction.

Intervention and Outcome: After being released from care with the initial chiropractor and one year after the MVC, the patient presented to a second chiropractor utilizing CBP® mirror-image cervical spine adjustments, exercise, and cervical extension traction to reduce forward head posture and a persistent cervical kyphosis. Following a 16-week course of care with 20-in office sessions, the adolescent’s cervical kyphosis returned to lordosis. His initial Neck Disability Index (NDI) was 37.5% and the 0 to 10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was a 7/10. Following CBP® treatment, the NDI was 0% and NRS was 0. The patient discontinued treatment and one year follow-up showed a gradual partial return of symptoms.

Conclusion: An adolescent patient with chronic cervicogenic impairments as a result of an MVC and cervical kyphosis experienced an improvement in symptoms and function after the use of CBP® chiropractic protocols.

Author keywords: whiplash associated disorders, chiropractic, vertebral subluxation, adjustment, cervical kyphosis, forward head posture, neck pain, Chiropractic Biophysics©

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