Conservative Methods for Reducing Lateral Translation Postures of the Head: A Non-randomized Clinical Control Trial
Conservative Methods for Reducing Lateral Translation Postures of the Head: A Non-randomized Clinical Control Trial
Authors
- Deed E. Harrison, DC
- Rene Cailliet, MD
- Joseph Betz, BS, DC
- Jason W. Haas, DC
- Donald D. Harrison, PhD, DC, MSE
- Tadeusz J. Janik, PhD
- Burt Holland, PhD
Publication
Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development. July/August 2004;41(4):631-640.
Article Link
Abstract
Fifty-one retrospective, consecutive patients were compared to twenty-six prospective volunteer controls in a non-randomized clinical control trial. Both groups had chronic neck
pain and lateral head translation posture. For treatment subjects, beginning and follow-up pain scales and anteroposterior (AP) cervical radiographs were obtained after 12.8 weeks of care (average of 37 visits), while the duration was a mean of 12 months for control subjects. Digitized radiographs were analyzed for Risser-Ferguson angles and a horizontal translation
distance of C2 from a vertical line through T3. For treatment, patients received the Harrison mirror-image postural methods, which include mechanically assisted manipulation, opposite
head posture exercise, and opposite head translation posture traction. While no significant differences were found in the control group subjects’ pain scores and AP radiographic measurements, statistically significant improvements were observed in the treatment group subjects’ pain scores and lateral translation displacements of C2 compared to T3 (pretrial score: 13.7 mm, posttrial score: 6.8 mm), and in angle measurements.