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Problem Addressed: Scheuermann's disease or deforming vertebral osteochondritis affects about 5% of the population. These patients become permanent users of rehabilitation services due to their discomfort. In periods of acute pain patients can only receive palliative and not very effective treatment., Purpose of the Work: In this study 30 patients who fulfil the criteria for diagnosis of Scheuermann's disease were treated with the F.E.D. device. By using this method, a back pressure of up to 100 kg can be applied at the apex of the kyphosis, stretching the anterior common vertebral ligament in an attempt to diminish complaint., Research Method: There were 14 men and 16 women with ages ranging from 15 to 35 years old. The mean kyphotic angle was 53 degrees (range, 45-65). Patients had an average Risser of 4.75 (range, 3-5). Schöber's test disclosed a range of values from 0 to 2.5 cm (mean, 0.78). The average period of treatment was 4 months (80 sessions of treatment). SUMMARY OF RESULTS AND FINDINGS: All the 30 patients referred disappearance of thoracic back pain after treatment. This pain relief effect was permanent for the time of follow-up. Kyphotic angle decreased from a mean of 30 degrees Cobb to 45 degrees (16% correction). A home physiotherapy program was recommended to all the patients in order to maintain dorsal elasticity as measured by Schöber's test. After treatment, the mean Schöber test value was 2.92. In cases treated during the growing period, where alterations in the spine were minimal or did not show radiographic alterations, progression of the kyphotic deformity was stopped., Conclusion: The F.E.D. device has shown to be a promising method both for the treatment of complaints in stabilised Scheuermann's disease and control of the progression of kyphotic deformity in the growing spine.

Introduction: One of the most important sequels of scoliosis in adults is pain, caused either by muscular overuse and imbalance or by nerve root compression. This is a very difficult sequel to treat because of the failure of the common analgesic drugs and physiotherapy treatments., Material and Method: We studied 30 patients with degenerative scoliosis of different origins. There were 24 women and 6 men. Patient age ranged from 25 to 55 years old. The initial Cobb angle ranged from 25 degrees to 65 degrees with a mean of 35 degrees. The mean Schöber back score* at the beginning of treatment was 1.32. The number of sessions with the F.E.D. method were between 20 and 60 with a mean of 45 sessions. All the patients had a case history of NSAIDs, muscle relaxants and physiotherapy., Results: The final average Cobb angle was 33 degrees and Schöber score* 2.88. After treatment, only two cases required NSAIDs, muscle relaxants and physiotherapy., Conclusions: The F.E.D. method seems to be a promising alternative for treatment of painful sequels in adult scoliosis, since in our study disappearance of symptomatology was seen in the majority of cases. The F.E.D. method also had a permanent effect over time if patients followed a home physiotherapy program. This analgesic effect has a direct relation with the improvement achieved in the flexibility index.

Problem Addressed: Treatment of scoliosis under 30 degrees Cobb in growing patients remains controversial. Different orthopaedic devices have been developed and used with satisfactory results, alone or in combination with a variety of physiotherapy programs. The F.E.D. method is a dynamic three-dimensional therapy consisting in the application of derotational forces under spine stretching. This method offers some advantages over conventional conservative treatment for scoliosis: shorter treatment period, no use of plasters in many cases, better psychological tolerance, etc., Purpose of the Work: In this work, the results of the F.E.D. method were compared to other conservative treatment techniques in scoliosis under 30 degrees Cobb angle and Risser 3 or less., Research Method: Both the F.E.D. group and the group of patients treated by traditional orthopaedic methods included 30 children. Patients were divided on the basis of the type of scoliotic deformity: thoracic, thoracolumbar or lumbar. SUMMARY OF RESULTS AND FINDINGS: The results obtained showed that patients treated with the F.E.D. method had a significantly better outcome than the other methods in terms of angle correction and shorter period of treatment necessary to reach correction., Conclusion: The F.E.D. method can be considered as the elective treatment in growing adolescents with scoliosis under 30 degrees.