Proprioceptive Stimulation.  An Effective Tool for Reversing Postural Distortions and Eliminating Chronic Pain

Prof/Dr Rothbart's Research Website

Your Subtitle text
Right Thoracic Curves.  2 Case Studies: Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy vs Surgical Intervention

The most progressive spinal (scoliotic) curve is the right thoracic curve.  Its growth velocity is the fastest at skeletal ages 12-13 (pre puberty), but frequently continues moderately after the age of 16 (Yrjones, 2006).

Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy has proven to be very effective in reversing thoracic curves in adolescents.

Case 1:  Right Thoracic Scoliotic Curve - 13 year old male

The parents of a 13 year old boy brought their son to see their family doctor, concerned over the progressive worsening of the son's scoliosis.  the doctor suggested a back brace.  The brace proved to be so uncomfortable and difficult for the boy to use in school, that the parents deciced to seek the advice of an orthopedist.

The orthopedist took two sets of Xrays (one year apart) of the boy's spine.  The first set of Xrays show a right thoracic curve of 17 degrees (Cobb's angle).  One year later, the thoracic curve had increased to 31 degrees.

The orthopedist strongly advised surgical intervention (fixation of the thoracic vertebrae) before the thoracic curve deteriorated even further.

Before subjecting their son to this invasive and painful surgery, the parents elected to seek a third opinion and brought their son to see me at my studio in Rome.

After initially examining their son, I determined that he had Rothbarts Foot.  I then tested him using proprioceptive stimulation to determine the impact on the thoracic curvature.  I noted that the boy's posture immediately improved: his waist and shoulders were more level and the scapula wings less prominent, his head was more centered over his spine, and more importantly, the curvature in his upper spine decreased (See Animation below).

Based on this immediate improvement in the boy's posture from the proprioceptive stimulation, I diagnosed the cause of his right thoracic curvature as Rothbarts Foot.  Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy was then initiated in order to stabilize the patient's right thoracic curve.

Results:  Using Rothbart Proprioceptive therapy, the progression of the thoracic curve was not only stabilized, but was reversed.  There was no longer any need for bracing or surgical intervention.

13 y.o. male. Immediate Improvement in the right thoracic curve using proprioceptive stimulation.

Reference

   Yrjonen T, Ylikoski M 2006. Effect of growth velocity on the progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in boys. Journal Pediatric Orthopaedics; 15(5):311-315.



Case 2: Right Thoracic Scoliotic Curve (right thoracic/left thoracolumbar) - 15 year old female

 

        

           Xray A          Xray B          Xray C

Xray A: Cobb Angles immediately before surgery:32/28°

Xray B: Cobb Angles immediately after surgery: 36/22°

Xray C: Cobb Angles one year after surgery:  52/28°


The parents of a 15 year old girl were concerned over the visual appearance of their daughter’s back and that it might be getting worse and brought her to see an orthopedist.

Initial Xrays were taken at the hospital (See Xray A below).  The radiologist's report indicated that the girl's double scoliotic curve was well compensated (stable).
                                   
The orthopedist diagnosed the girl as having adolescent idiopathic (cause unknown) scoliosis.  He told the parents that the right thoracic curves are most unstable around the time of the beginning of menstruation and that these curves are prone to worsening if not surgically stabilized.  Based on the orthopedist’s recommendation, the parents consented to the surgery.

Immediately after the surgery was done, Xrays were taken.  The right thoracic curve had not changed. The left thorocolumbar curve decreased 6 degrees, from 28 degrees to 22 degrees (See Xray B above).

Six months after the surgery, the parents  brought their daughter to see the orthopedist, anxious over the cosmetic appearance of their daughter’s back, which appeared to be worse than it was before the surgery (See Photos below). 



The orthopedist advised the parents not to be concerned, that the cosmetic appearance would improve in time.

One year after the surgery, the appearance of their daughter’s back was still deteriorating. The parent’s concern continued to escalate. They sought another opinion and were referred to a radiologist for another set of Xrays (See Xray C above):
  • The right thoracic curve was 52 degrees (a 20 degree increase compared to before the surgery was done)
  • The left thoracolumbar curve had lost its surgical correction and was now measuring 28 degrees (the same as prior to the surgery)

Results

Prior to the surgery, the 15 year old female had a well compensated (stable) double curve pattern.  One year post surgically, the spinal curves were unbalanced, unstable and getting worse.  The girl’s cosmetic appearance had deteriorated (See Photos above).


What these two case studies suggest
  • When the cause of the abnormal spinal curve is determined and then correctly treated, as in Case 1, the spine is stabilized.
  • When the cause is not determined and not correctly treated, as in Case 2, the spine becomes unstable and the curves further deteriorate.



Reference:

   Weiss HR 2007.  Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis - case report of a patient with clinical deterioration after surgery.  Patient Safety in Surgery Journal, 1(7) Online at www.pssjournal.com/content/1/1/7




Prof/Dr Brian A Rothbart
Chronic Pain Elimination Specialist
Discovered the Rothbarts Foot Structure and the PreClinical Clubfoot Deformity
Developer of Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy
Inventor and Designer of Rothbart Proprioceptive Insoles
Founder of International Academy of Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy
Author of Forever Free From Chronic Pain
Content copyright . Brian A Rothbart. All rights reserved.
Web Hosting Companies