Paul A. Oakley

UPRIGHT STATIC PELVIC POSTURE AS ROTATIONS AND TRANSLATIONS IN 3-DIMENSIONAL FROM THREE 2-DIMENSIONAL DIGITAL IMAGES : VALIDATION OF A COMPUTERIZED ANALYSIS

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy in measuring the pelvic orientations of a phantom model using the PosturePrint method. METHODS In the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières biomechanics laboratory, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada, a mannequin was fixed on a rotating platform. For a set of 3 photographs (left lateral, anterior to posterior, right lateral) of each position, the mannequin pelvis was placed in 68 different postures on a stand, 61 cm from a wall, in front of a digital camera. The camera was at 83.8 cm in height and at 3.35 m from a calibrated wall grid. Mannequin postures were in 5 degrees of freedom: lateral translation (Tx), lateral flexion (Rz), axial rotation (Ry), flexion-extension (Rx), and anterior-posterior translation (Tz). Average errors were the differences of the positioned postures to the PosturePrint computed values. RESULTS Mean and SD of computational errors for rotation displacements were Rx = 0.5 degrees +/- 0.8 degrees , Ry = 1.3 degrees +/- 0.8 degrees , and Rz = 0.5 degrees +/- 0.3 degrees , and for translation, Tz = 1.2 +/- 0.6 mm and Tx = 0.9 +/- 0.5 mm. CONCLUSIONS The PosturePrint system allowed for accurate postural measurement of rotations and translations of a mannequin pelvis. The next step in evaluation of this product would be a reliability study on human subjects.

Reversing thoracic hyperkyphosis: a case report featuring mirror image® thoracic extension rehabilitation

[Purpose] To present a case of non-surgical reduction of thoracic hyperkyphosis utilizing a multimodal rehabilitation program emphasizing the mirror image® concept. [Subject and Methods] A 15-year-old female presented to a rehabilitation office suffering from back and neck pains and headaches. The patient was treated sporadically over a period of 13-months. Treatment consisted of anterior thoracic translation and thoracic extension exercises, spinal traction and spinal manipulation. [Results] After 13-months of treatment the patient displayed a significant reduction in hyperkyphosis and a dramatic correction of her overall posture and spine alignment corresponding to the reduction in back/neck pains, headaches and the simultaneous improvement of various other health issues. [Conclusion] Thoracic hyperkyphosis can be reduced through a multimodal rehabilitation program emphasizing mirror image thoracic extension procedures.

Relief of exertional dyspnea and spinal pains by increasing the thoracic kyphosis in straight back syndrome (thoracic hypo-kyphosis) using CBP ® methods: a case report with long-term follow-up

[Purpose] To present the clinically significant improvement of straight back syndrome (SBS) in a patient with spinal pain and exertional dyspnea. [Subject and Methods] A 19 year old presented with excessive thoracic hypokyphosis and other postural deviations. A multimodal CBP® mirror image® protocol of corrective exercises, traction procedures and spine/posture adjusting were given over an initial 12-week course of intensive treatment followed by a 2.75 year follow-up with minimal supportive treatment. [Results] The patient had significant postural improvements in all postural measures and specifically a 14° increase in the thoracic kyphosis that was maintained at long-term follow-up. The postural improvements were consistent with relief of exertional dyspnea and pain, as well as increases in both antero-posterior thoracic diameter and the ratio of antero-posterior to transthoracic diameter, measurements critical to the wellbeing of patients with SBS. [Conclusion] Long-term follow-up confirmed stable improvement in physiologic thoracic kyphosis in this patient. Nonsurgical correction in thoracic hypokyphosis/SBS can be achieved by mirror image traction procedures configured to flex the thoracic spine into hyperkyphosis as well as corrective exercise and manipulation as a part of CBP technique protocols.

X-Ray Imaging is Essential for Contemporary Chiropractic and Manual Therapy Spinal Rehabilitation: Radiography Increases Benefits and Reduces Risks:

To remedy spine-related problems, assessments of X-ray images are essential to determine the spine and postural parameters. Chiropractic/manual therapy realignment of the structure of the spine can address a wide range of pain, muscle weakness, and functional impairments. Alternate methods to assess such spine problems are often indirect and do not reveal the root cause and could result in a significant misdiagnosis, leading to inappropriate treatment and harmful consequences for the patient. Radiography reveals the true condition and alignment of the spine; it eliminates guesswork. Contemporary approaches to spinal rehabilitation, guided by accurate imaging, have demonstrated superiority over primitive treatments. Unfortunately, there are well-meaning but misguided activists who advocate elimination or minimization of exposures in spine radiography. The radiation dose employed for a plain radiograph is very low, about 100 times below the threshold dose for harmful effects. Rather than increasing risk, such exposures would likely stimulate the patient’s own protection systems and result in beneficial health effects. Spine care guidelines need to be revised to reflect the potential benefits of modern treatments and the lack of health risks from low X-ray doses. This would encourage routine use of radiography in manual spine therapy, which differs from common pharmacologic pain relief practice.

Radiophobia: 7 Reasons Why Radiography Used in Spine and Posture Rehabilitation Should Not Be Feared or Avoided:

Evidence-based contemporary spinal rehabilitation often requires radiography. Use of radiography (X-rays or computed tomography scans) should not be feared, avoided, or have their exposures lessened to decrease patient dose possibly jeopardizing image quality. This is because all fears of radiation exposures from medical diagnostic imaging are based on complete fabrication of health risks based on an outdated, invalid linear model that has simply been propagated for decades. We present 7 main arguments for continued use of radiography for routine use in spinal rehabilitation: (1) the linear no-threshold model for radiation risk estimates is invalid for low-dose exposures; (2) low-dose radiation enhances health via the body’s adaptive response mechanisms (ie, radiation hormesis); (3) an X-ray with low-dose radiation only induces 1 one-millionth the amount of cellular damage as compared to breathing air for a day; (4) radiography is below inescapable natural annual background radiation levels; (5) radiophobia stems from unwarranted fears and false beliefs; (6) radiography use leads to better patient outcomes; (7) the risk to benefit ratio is always beneficial for routine radiography. Radiography is a safe imaging method for routine use in patient assessment, screening, diagnosis, and biomechanical analysis and for monitoring treatment progress in daily clinical practice.

Nonsurgical correction of straight back syndrome (thoracic hypokyphosis), increased lung capacity and resolution of exertional dyspnea by thoracic hyperkyphosis mirror image® traction: a CBP® case report

[Purpose] To present the increase in thoracic kyphosis in a patient suffering from exertional dyspnea, reduced lung capacity, and spinal pains related to straight back syndrome (SBS). [Subject and Methods] A 33-year-old male patient was put on a CBP® corrective care program involving mirror image® traction procedures designed to increase the thoracic kyphosis. [Results] This patient had a 10° improvement in thoracic kyphosis in 16-weeks that was maintained 7-months later. There was a simultaneous reduction of pain, resolved exertional dyspnea, and a greater than 2 liter increase in lung capacity. [Conclusion] This case illustrates that nonsurgical improvement in thoracic kyphosis in a patient with SBS is possible and that this may positively influence lung capacity, health and function.

Treating ‘slouchy’ (hyperkyphosis) posture with chiropractic biophysics®: a case report utilizing a multimodal mirror image® rehabilitation program

[Purpose] To present a case of the non-surgical reduction of ‘slouchy’ hyperkyphosis posture utilizing the multimodal Chiropractic BioPhysics® rehabilitation program emphasizing the mirror image® concept. [Subject and Methods] A 27-year-old female presented suffering from neck and back pains, headaches and gait dysfunction. The patient was treated 30 times over a period of 6-months. Treatment consisted of anterior thoracic translation, thoracic extension, and head retraction exercises as well as spinal traction and spinal manipulation. [Results] After 6-months of treatment the patient displayed a total correction of the posterior thoracic translation with a significant reduction in thoracic hyperkyphosis. The dramatic correction of her overall posture and spine alignment corresponded to the significant relief of neck and back pains, headaches and improvement of various other health issues as demonstrated by self-report and SF-36. [Conclusion] Poor postures corresponding to poor health can be changed for the better with multimodal rehabilitation programs that are now showing consistent postural improvements corresponding with improvements in various health conditions. We suggest that the postural correction of those with various pain symptoms be considered as a first line non-pharmalogical, non-surgical rehabilitation approach for those presenting with poor posture.

Non-surgical relief of cervical radiculopathy through reduction of forward head posture and restoration of cervical lordosis: a case report

[Purpose] To present a case demonstrating the relief of cervical radiculopathy following the dramatic reduction of forward head posture and restoration of the cervical lordosis by use of a multi-modal rehabilitation program incorporating cervical extension traction. [Subject and Methods] A 31-year-old male patient presented with severe cervical radiculopathy and muscle weakness as well as neck pain. The patient had limited neck range of motion, and multiple positive orthopedic tests. Radiography revealed excessive forward head posture with a cervical kyphosis. [Results] The patient received a multi-modal rehabilitation protocol including mirror image extension exercises, cervical extension traction, and spinal manipulative therapy. After forty treatments over 17 weeks, the patient reported a complete resolution of radiculopathy and significant improvement in neck pain level. Post radiography demonstrated correction of the spine and posture alignment. The patient remained well and maintained corrected posture with limited treatment one year later. [Conclusion] Our case demonstrates the relief of cervical radiculopathy resulting from the non-surgical correction of forward head posture and cervical kyphosis.

Reduction of progressive thoracolumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis by chiropractic biophysics® (CBP®) mirror image® methods following failed traditional chiropractic treatment: a case report

[Purpose] To present a case demonstrating the reduction of progressive thoracolumbar scoliosis by incorporating Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®) technique’s mirror image® exercises, traction and blocking procedures based on the ‘non-commutative properties of finite rotation angles under addition’ engineering law. [Subject and Methods] A 15-year-old female presented with a right thoracolumbar scoliosis having a Cobb angle from T5–L3 of 27° and suffering from headaches and lower back pains. Her curve had progressed over the last two years despite being under traditional chiropractic care. [Results] The patient was treated using CBP structural rehabilitation protocols incorporating mirror image traction, home blocking, corrective exercises and spinal manipulation. The patient was treated 24 times (including 45 home self-treatment blocking sessions) over the course of 15-weeks. Her thoracolumbar curve reduced from 27° to 8° and her headache and low back pain disability improved significantly. [Conclusion] CBP mirror image exercises and traction are consistent with other successful non-surgical approaches and show promise in treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Scoliosis deformity reduction in adults: a CBP® Mirror Image® case series incorporating the ‘non-commutative property of finite rotation angles under addition’ in five patients with lumbar and thoraco-lumbar scoliosis

[Purpose] This case series presents the unique application of the non-commutative property of finite rotation angles under addition to the CBP® mirror image® treatment protocol for adult lumbar and thoraco-lumbar scoliosis. [Subjects and Methods] Five adult patients having lumbar/thoraco-lumbar scoliosis and back pain, and having at least two prominent thoracic postural abnormalities according to Harrison’s rotations and translations of thoracic postures were included. After initial assessment, mirror-image stress x-rays were taken. For each patient, one stress film was taken using the order of mirror image movements with the largest displacement followed by the second largest (primary + secondary) and one stress film was taken in the opposite order (secondary + primary). The consecutive ordered movements that resulted in the largest reduction of curvature were chosen as the order-specific series of movements all exercises and postural traction were to be performed for each patient. Spinal manipulation was also performed. [Results] All patients had a reduction of curvature concomitant with a reduction in pain levels. [Conclusion] This unique treatment approach offers a patient-specific, targeted structural rehabilitative procedure to stress the spine towards a more straightened configuration. Adult lumbar and thoraco-lumbar curves can be reduced and improved by these non-invasive CBP methods.