Tomer Bezalel1, Leonid Kalichman2. 1. Maccabi Health Care Services, Posture Clinic, Maccabi Hashalom, Tel Aviv, Israel. 2. Department of Physical Therapy, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel. Electronic address: kalichman@hotmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Scheuermann's disease is the most common cause of hyperkyphosis of the thoracolumbar spine. Few case reports have demonstrated the effectiveness of Schroth therapy in improving the thoracic angle curve in Scheuermann's patients; however, additional verification is needed. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 14-year-old female patient presented with Scheuermann's disease. On X-ray, thoracic kyphosis was 55° and lumbar lordosis 55°. The self-rated cosmetic disturbance was graded 10/10 on a verbal numeric scale. The patient received a course of seven weekly Schroth therapy sessions, in addition to daily home exercises tailored specifically for the patient's posture. Five months later, follow-up X-rays revealed thoracic kyphosis of 27° and lumbar lordosis 35°. The patient graded the degree of her cosmetic disturbance as 3/10. CONCLUSIONS: Schroth therapy seems to be able to decrease the thoracic curve angle of Scheuermann's patients; however, efficacy and effectiveness of this method should be investigated in future prospective controlled clinical trials.
BACKGROUND:Scheuermann's disease is the most common cause of hyperkyphosis of the thoracolumbar spine. Few case reports have demonstrated the effectiveness of Schroth therapy in improving the thoracic angle curve in Scheuermann's patients; however, additional verification is needed. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 14-year-old female patient presented with Scheuermann's disease. On X-ray, thoracic kyphosis was 55° and lumbar lordosis 55°. The self-rated cosmetic disturbance was graded 10/10 on a verbal numeric scale. The patient received a course of seven weekly Schroth therapy sessions, in addition to daily home exercises tailored specifically for the patient's posture. Five months later, follow-up X-rays revealed thoracic kyphosis of 27° and lumbar lordosis 35°. The patient graded the degree of her cosmetic disturbance as 3/10. CONCLUSIONS: Schroth therapy seems to be able to decrease the thoracic curve angle of Scheuermann's patients; however, efficacy and effectiveness of this method should be investigated in future prospective controlled clinical trials.