It has been one whole year since I graduated from physical therapy school and this year at Align Therapy has brought many successes and learning opportunities. So, I thought I would share a quick story about the potential results every patient can experience that may be dealing with scoliosis or hyperkyphosis of the spine (Sometimes called Scheuermann’s Kyphosis).
Hyperkyphosis (Rounding of the upper back)
Over the past two months, I have had the privilege of getting to know and treating a 16 year old for back pain associated with a large 69 degree thoracic kyphosis. The pain she was experiencing each day would prevent her from being able to stand for more than 30 minutes. This pain is something any teenager shouldn’t have to worry about.
Treatment
Fortunately, she possessed a high motivation and was ready to put in the time and commitment needed to see improvement. Her treatment has included the Schroth method, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and a rigorous home exercise program requiring 20-30 minutes five days per week. Progress seemed slow at first, but results began to appear. 
Results!
Her postural awareness, control, and endurance increased and she started standing a little taller week by week in both a figurative and literal sense. By two months, after her diligence with being consistent with her home program and working on her posture at school, her hard work paid off with a nearly 20 degree reduction of her thoracic kyphosis to 51 degrees! She is also able to stand for over 2 hours without increased pain!
It has been such a joy to see this patient’s progression through her plan of care. Treating our spine patients in general, especially those with scoliosis and hyperkyphosis, has been a tremendous learning opportunity for me as a newly graduated therapist, and I am excited for what lies in store for the evolution of our current treatment approaches in managing this population.
If you have questions about Kyphosis, Scoliosis, or Back Pain, please don’t hesitate to contact us to see how we can help you achieve your goals! You can call (801)980-0860 or email info@aligntherapyutah.com.
