Postural Reconstruction Physiotherapy* was used to treat a 55 year old woman with idiopathic cervical dystonia*. Initially H.M. experienced severe neck and back pain, her head was fixed in left cervical rotation and she was impaired functionally in her ability to walk, read, sew and interact in a forward facing direction. Postural Reconstruction has enabled H.M. to return to a pain free state, resume her previous hobbies, talk to people and watch television facing forwards and walk with greater ease.
Management of people with idiopathic cervical dystonia is typically with injection of botulinum toxin (BOTOX), pharmacotherapy, behavior modification, psychology, physiotherapy and selective denervation surgical techniques. Postural Reconstruction is a physiotherapy technique developed by Francoise Mézières in which the premise is to restore morphological* alignment by normalizing excessive muscular tone*. This treatment technique has been successful for H.M. as she has improved subjectively, functionally and morphologically. Postural Reconstruction Physiotherapy therefore is an alternative conservative approach for the management of idiopathic cervical dystonia.