Global physiotherapy approach to thoracolumbar junction syndrome. A case report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The thoracolumbar junction syndrome or Maigne's syndrome is one of the causes of low back pain, for which no comprehensive treatment has yet been proposed. This case report aims to assess the effectiveness of a global physiotherapy approach, such as the Mézières method, to reduce pain and improve posture and mobility in a patient with thoracolumbar junction syndrome (TLJS).

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 42-year-old woman patient presented a chronic nonspecific low back pain associated with severe pain in the right inguinal fold which has disabled her for two years. She described her pain as deep and intermittent. She complained of difficulties performing tasks that involved on long walks and bending forward lumbar flexion.

OUTCOMES: After ten sessions the pain completely disappeared (numeric rating scale-NRS improved from 6 to 0). A slight improvement in certain morphostatic parameters in the frontal and sagittal planes was reported, analyzed by ADiBAS software. Six months after the final session, the patient was asymptomatic, with improved bodily awareness and muscular extensibility.

CONCLUSION: The TLJS patient responded well to the Mézières Method, whose global physiotherapy approach resulted in a lessening of nociceptive pain, and also improved posture and functionality.