Sustained Improvements of Thoracic Hyperkyphosis, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, in a 26-Year-Old Male With Scheuermann's...

We report sustained improvements in thoracic hyperkyphosis, sagittal balance, and health-related quality of life in a 26-year-old male with Scheuermann's disease using Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®) rehabilitation with a 28-month long-term follow-up. Scheuermann's is associated with significant reductions in quality-of-life outcomes and poor psychosocial outcomes. Body dysmorphic disorders and altered self-perception further deteriorate patient-reported outcomes. Reductions in abnormal spine conditions can reduce the likelihood of disability and chronic conditions. A 26-year-old male with posture deformity and hyperkyphosis had experienced only long-term mild pain and consequences from his abnormal posture. Poor sagittal alignment led to disqualification for enrollment into the United States Coast Guard; he sought treatment in Meridian, Idaho, USA. Physical examination demonstrated altered spine and postural alignment. Treatment was a multi-modal regimen focused on postural muscles, specific spine manipulation directed toward abnormal full-spine alignment, and specific mirror image traction aimed to improve spine integrity by realigning the spine toward a more normal position. Following 36 treatments over three months, all initial tests and outcome measures were repeated. All outcome measures, posture, and radiographic mensuration demonstrated improvement at the conclusion of treatment and were maintained at 28-month re-examination. SF-36 scores improved by the minimal clinically important difference in nearly all categories and were maintained at 28 months. We report that the CBP^®treatment approach had a potential positive effect for a single patient with Scheuermann's kyphosis. This investigation is a single case, and no declarative statements of efficacy are made or implied. Larger controlled studies are necessary to make conclusions regarding Scheuermann's kyphosis with CBP treatment. This study adds to the literature regarding conservative methods of treating postural and spine disorders.