CASE STUDY
Curve Improvement in a Patient with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Following Chiropractic Care: A Case Report
Cathy Wendland-Colby, D.C.Bio & Davy Lucius Addison, D.C. Bio
Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic ~ Volume 2012 ~ Issue 3 ~ Pages 77-80
Abstract
Objective: To report thoracolumbar scoliosis improvement in an 11-year-old female receiving
diversified adjustments and gravity assisted traction.
Clinical Features: The patient was an 11-year-old female with a scoliosis that was undetected at
a routine school screening. Objective findings indicated vertebral subluxation and scoliotic
curvature through palpation, leg length inequality, thermal scans, and radiographs. She had a 22
degree thoracolumbar curvature obtained using the Cobb method and positive orthopedic tests.
Intervention and outcomes: She was treated with diversified chiropractic adjustments and
gravity assisted traction on a weekly basis to total 31 visits over a three month period.
Subsequent thermal scans reveal a decrease in paraspinal skin temperature and follow-up
radiographs revealed a three degree reduction in the Cobb measurement.
Conclusions: A case of an 11-year-old female with scoliosis is presented. After 31 visits, a
Cobb angle reduction of three degrees was achieved. Further investigation into the relationship
between chiropractic adjustments and traction procedures is warranted. A long-term follow-up
with the presenting patient is also desirable.
Keywords:Scoliosis, Chiropractic, Posture, Cobb angle, Traction, Diversified
