A single case report of healing through specific martial art therapy: Comparison of MRI to clinical resolution in severe cervical stenosis: A case report
Pb. Massey et Gm. Kisling, A single case report of healing through specific martial art therapy: Comparison of MRI to clinical resolution in severe cervical stenosis: A case report, J ALTERN C, 5(1), 1999, pp. 75-79
Objectives: A 76-year-old patient with chronic and severe spinal cord compr
ession secondary to cervical stenosis, a cervical osteophyte, and a herniat
ed intervertebral cervical disk had lasting resolution of symptoms after co
mpleting a specific, martial art-based, physical therapy program. We wanted
to determine if there were structural changes in the cervical spine that c
ould account for the prompt resolution of symptoms.
Design: A 76-year-old female completed 8 weeks of a specific, martial art-b
ased, physical therapy. The pretherapy and posttherapy cervical magnetic re
sonance images (MRIs) were compared. A follow-up evaluation was done at 1 y
ear.
Results: The patient was symptom-free within 8 weeks of the start of therap
y. She remained symptom-free at 1 year follow-up evaluation. There were no
obvious structural differences in the pretherapy and posttherapy MRI studie
s.
Conclusions: Resolution of symptoms was directly related to the specific ma
rtial art therapy. However, there were no changes in the pretherapy and pos
ttherapy MRI studies, suggesting a significant adaptation to the spinal com
pression had occurred. These data suggest a viable option to surgery in eld
erly patients with chronic and severe cervical spinal stenosis.