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Updated: May 26, 2026
Clinical Efficacy of an Innovative Multidimensional Traction Therapy in Moderate Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Published on: February 10, 2026
Conservative treatment of clubfoot using modified Copenhagen method
Elia María Utrilla-Rodríguez1, María Jesús Guerrero Martínez-Cañavete, Juan Andrés Conejero Casares
1Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain. eutrilla@us.es
Purpose:
To evaluate the efficacy of a modified Copenhagen physical therapy method in reducing surgery rates for congenital idiopathic clubfoot.
Methods:
This research is a retrospective descriptive study of 82 patients (123 clubfeet). All patients were younger than 2 months at the beginning of the treatment and were initially evaluated to classify clubfoot severity using the Harrold and Walker scale. The study period included the years from 1980 to 2003, with an average monitoring of 14.5 years (range, 3-26 years).
Results:
After 3 years of treatment, 55% of the involved feet did not need surgery, 2% needed percutaneous tenotomy of the Achilles tendon, and 43% had posterior release. At the end of monitoring, 34% feet did not need surgery, 2% had percutaneous tenotomy of the Achilles tendon, and 64% required posterior releases.
Conclusion:
The Copenhagen method may reduce the necessity of surgical intervention for idiopathic clubfoot.
