The treatment of lateral curvature of the spine : with appendix giving an analysis of 1000 consecutive cases treated by posture and exercise exclusively (without mechanical supports) / by Bernard Roth.

  • Bernard Roth
Date:
1899
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treatment of lateral curvature of the spine : with appendix giving an analysis of 1000 consecutive cases treated by posture and exercise exclusively (without mechanical supports) / by Bernard Roth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    will be more or less unduly prominent, sometimes so slight that a good light and a well-trained eye are necessary to make out a difference on the two sides. Now a scoliosio- metric tracing of the ribs posteriorly is taken, as has been already described on page 12 : similarly, a record is taken of the loins, usually opposite the third lumbar vertebra. After this careful examination, which has included a record of any osseous deformity present, as well as of the ribs anteriorly, before allowing the patient to dress, it is essential to ascertain to what extent the spine can be restored to its normal position by a voluntary effort, with the help of the surgeon. In cases of Class I.—viz., JPostu7^al, or non-osseous stage —where there is no bony deformity of the ribs and vertebrse, this best possible position will be perfectly normal, with the shoulder-blades and hip-bones (iliac crests) symmetrical, the thorax well thrown out, the abdomen withdrawn from undue prominence, and the head erect (see frontispiece Photographs, figs. 1 to 6, although this case had some osseous deformity). In cases of Class II.—viz., Osseous stage,'' the im- provement effected will depend on the amount of bony deformity present. One arm directed and held upwards, and the other arm outwards, is frequently useful in helping to partially restore the symmetry of the trunk (see photographs, fig. 7 and fig. 8, which represent a girl, aged seven years, with severe Lateral Curvature, in the habitual posture [photograph, fig. 7] and the best pos- sible'' posture [photograph, fig. 8]). Sometimes the best result is obtained by both arms being raised vertically by the side of the head, while avoiding undue elevation of the shoulder-blades, the elbows being either grasped above the head, or well extended upwards: at other times it is found that the desired result is obtained by grasping one wrist, both arms being extended upwards by the sides of the head. This best position of the patient's trunk and arms, for improving the form of the spine, is the keynote of the exercises to be practised during treatment.
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