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Case Reports
. 2022 Feb;34(2):167-171.
doi: 10.1589/jpts.34.167. Epub 2022 Feb 23.

Is the cervical lordosis a key biomechanical biomarker in cervicogenic headache?: a Chiropractic Biophysics® case report with follow-up

Miles O Fortner  1 , Thomas J Woodham  1 , Paul A Oakley  2 , Deed E Harrison  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Is the cervical lordosis a key biomechanical biomarker in cervicogenic headache?: a Chiropractic Biophysics® case report with follow-up

Miles O Fortner et al. J Phys Ther Sci. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

[Purpose] To present the successful structural improvement in cervical lordosis in a patient suffering from cervicogenic headache having cervical kyphosis. [Participant and Methods] A 26 year old female presented with the primary complaint of headache. Radiography demonstrated a cervical kyphosis. Chiropractic BioPhysics® methods were used to restore the cervical spine alignment. Twenty-five treatments were given over 8 weeks. A 2.5 year follow-up was also reported. [Results] Radiography showed a dramatic increase in cervical lordosis following initial treatment. The patient also reported substantial reductions in headache frequency and severity as well as other bodily improvements, reduced disability and improved quality of life. The long-term follow-up showed a maintenance of lordosis correction and patient wellness. [Conclusion] A cervical kyphosis was reversed back to a normal lordosis in 8 weeks and coincided with dramatic resolution of cervicogenic headache in a young female. The cervical lordosis may be a key biomechanical biomarker in cervicogenic headache.

Keywords: Biomechanical biomarker; Cervical lordosis; Cervicogenic headache.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Lateral cervical radiographs. Left: Initial image showing cervical kyphosis from C2-C6 of +7° (−7.5° C2-C7); Middle: 8 week post-treatment image showing reversal of kyphosis to normal lordosis of −36°; Right: Follow-up showing maintenance of the lordosis (−33°) with minimal treatment after 2.5 years.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Anterior-posterior lumbopelvic radiographs. Left: Initial view showing shorted left leg causing an upper lumbar kink of 8° at the level of L2, and asymmetry of the sacral plate lower on the left; Right: A 7 mm heel lift rebalanced the pelvis and reduced the upper lumbar deviation to straight.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Cervical extension corrective ‘mirror image’ exercises performed on the PowerPlate.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Pope’s 2-way cervical extension traction.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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