A new symmetry based scoring method for posture assessment: Evaluation of the effect of insoles with mineral derivatives

Background: There is a need for a validated rapid procedure for the evaluat ion of posture, defined as lateral balance/imbalance at the pelvic, shoulde r, and neck levels. This would enable clinicians to determine the importanc e of symmetry in the pathophysiology of musculoskeletal disorders and to as sess the efficacy of devices and treatments claiming to normalize or improv e posture. In this investigation, the efficacy of such a device, a set of i nsoles with a hypothesized proprioceptive-like action, was evaluated throug h use of the described procedure. Objectives: To develop a new scoring system to evaluate body posture on the basis of symmetry and to use this scoring system to investigate the effica cy of insoles containing a combination of mineral derivatives designed to b alance posture through a neurophysiological effect. Methods: The posture score was based on the evaluation of 4 postural parame ters: pelvic and shoulder lateral balance/imbalance, static shoulder rotati on, and amplitude of head rotation. In the placebo-controlled study, 32 pat ients were tested in a double-blind fashion, either with placebo insoles or with insoles containing mineral derivatives. The same study was repeated i n unblind conditions in 137 patients selected from 2 chiropractic clinics i n an open-label protocol. Study Designs: A crossover placebo-controlled, double-blind study and a mul ticenter, large-scale, open-label study in patients selected from chiroprac tic clinics. Results: A basal postural evaluation in 137 patients revealed that no patie nt had a perfect symmetry-ie, a perfectly or nearly perfectly balanced post ure. The insoles with mineral derivatives induced a highly significant and similar improvement in the postural score in both the crossover double-blin d study (32 patients; 56.7% improvement) and the open-label study (137 pati ents; 60.7% improvement, P < .001). Conclusions: All patients tested and selected in chiropractic clinics exhib ited asymmetries and postural imbalances according to the newly developed s coring method, and this method was successful in assessing the efficacy of insoles exerting a profound and immediate postural effect through a hypothe sized neurophysiological mode of action.