M. Masse et al., A new symmetry based scoring method for posture assessment: Evaluation of the effect of insoles with mineral derivatives, J MANIP PHY, 23(9), 2000, pp. 596-600
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Ortopedics, Rehabilitation & Sport Medicine
Journal title
JOURNAL OF MANIPULATIVE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL THERAPEUTICS
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.