ORIGINAL PAPER
Efficacy of the use of the McKenzie and Vojta methods to treat discopathy-associated syndromes in the pediatric population
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1
Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy)
2
Provincial Integrated Hospital in Kielce, Kielce, Poland
(Świętokrzyskie Center for Pediatrics)
3
Wye Valley Foundation Trust, Hereford, United Kingdom
(Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hereford County Hospital)
4
Rehabilitation Center, Zgorzelec, Poland
5
Technical University in Dresden, Dresden, Germany
(Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Online publication date: 2019-01-21
Corresponding author
Arkadiusz Żurawski
Jan Kochanowski University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Phisiotherapy, al. IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(1):33-41
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: This paper evaluates the efficacy of using the McKenzie and Vojta methods for patients with low back pain and the use of the DIERS Formetric
4D system as an objective diagnostic tool. Material and Methods: The study enrolled 28 patients aged 15–17 years old. The patients were hospitalized
at the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of the Świętokrzyskie Center for Pediatrics in Kielce with a diagnosis of back pain associated with
a discopathy. The patients were rehabilitated according to the McKenzie and Vojta methods. Assessment by means of the DIERS Formetric system had
taken place before the first therapy session and on the day that pain was eliminated to evaluate trunk inclination, angle of thoracic kyphosis, angle of lumbar
lordosis, lateral deviation, trunk torsion, surface rotation and pelvic obliquity. Pain intensity and change in pain intensity over time were assessed by means
of a numerical rating scale. Results: Pain intensity was reduced to 0 over 3–12 days. The study participants demonstrated reduction in anterior trunk inclination
of the mean value at 1.83°. The angle of thoracic kyphosis was also reduced by 7.95°. The angle of lordosis increased by 7.6°. The lateral spinal curvature
was reduced by 8.92 mm. There was a reduction of 4.64° in trunk torsion. Surface rotation was reduced by 1.61° and pelvic obliquity was reduced by 3.78°. Conclusions: In discopathic patients, postural parameters comprising trunk inclination, angle of thoracic kyphosis, angle of lumbar lordosis, lateral deviation,
trunk torsion, vertebral rotation and pelvic obliquity fail to reach Hartzmann’s physiological reference ranges. A therapeutic intervention based on
the Vojta and McKenzie methods may normalize the posture to physiological reference ranges and is effective in the treatment of patients with back pain.
The DIERS system is an objective tool for tracing the effects of therapy in patients with back pain. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(1):33–41