A single case report of healing through specific martial art therapy: comparison of MRI to clinical resolution in severe cervical stenosis: a case report

OBJECTIVES: A 76-year-old patient with chronic and severe spinal cord compression secondary to cervical stenosis, a cervical osteophyte, and a herniated intervertebral cervical disk had lasting resolution of symptoms after completing a specific, martial art-based, physical therapy program. We wanted to determine if there were structural changes in the cervical spine that could account for the prompt resolution of symptoms. DESIGN: A 76-year-old female completed 8 weeks of a specific, martial art-based, physical therapy. The pretherapy and posttherapy cervical magnetic resonance images (MRIs) were compared. A follow-up evaluation was done at 1 year. RESULTS: The patient was symptom-free within 8 weeks of the start of therapy. She remained symptom-free at 1 year follow-up evaluation. There were no obvious structural differences in the pretherapy and posttherapy MRI studies. CONCLUSIONS: Resolution of symptoms was directly related to the specific martial art therapy. However, there were no changes in the pretherapy and posttherapy MRI studies, suggesting a significant adaptation to the spinal compression had occurred. These data suggest a viable option to surgery in elderly patients with chronic and severe cervical spinal stenosis.