• Haas JW
• Oakley PA
• Harrison DE

• Affiliation / CBP NonProfit, Inc.
• Affiliation / Private Practice
• Affiliation(G) / Canada / Ontario / Newmarket
• Affiliation(G) / Unitd States / Colorado / Windsor
• Affiliation(G) / United States / Idaho / Eagle
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Low Back Pain
• Open Access Document
• Posture
• Sciatica
• Spinal Diseases / therapy

Objective: To discuss dramatic reduction of severe anterior sagittal balance and overall posture in an elderly woman with chronic low back pain and sciatica. 

Clinical Features: An 87-year old female had low back pain and sciatica for 30 years. She had poor posture, limited flexibility and many positive orthopedic tests. Radiography quantified the gross anterior sagittal balance and spinal subluxation

Intervention and Outcome: Chiropractic BioPhysics® methods included spinal extension traction, extension exercises, and paraspinal muscle stimulation to improve posture. After 24 treatment sessions over 8 weeks, she achieved a dramatic reduction of symptoms, improvements in flexibility and orthopedic testing. There was also an approximate 110mm reduction in anterior sagittal balance as well as improvements in other spinal parameters

Conclusions: This case suggests that gross spinal deformities can be reduced by non-surgical methods, and that the improvement in gross deformity correlates with reduction in chronic symptom burden. Although there is a substantial evidence base for the use of Chiropractic BioPhysics methods, research is needed for its use on patients having severe spinal deformities.

Author keywords: Adult Spinal Deformity; Thoraco-Lumbar Deformity; Low Back Pain

Author affiliations: JWH: Private Practice, Windsor, Colorado, United States; PSO: Private Practice, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada; DEH: CBP NonProfit, Inc., Eagle, Idaho, United States

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