Spondylarthritis due to posture and its treatment

Abstract

It has been shown that hereditary malformation of the epiphyseal ring of the vertebrae is the determining factor in pathologic juvenile posture. The most frequent form of spondylarthritis develops as a reaction to such postural changes. The function of the intervertebral disc is described. It is pointed out that as soon as the elastic properties of these discs are diminished, a narrowing of the intervertebral spaces sets in, as the first step toward the development of spondylarthritis. As shown in the case histories, no complaints are usually present at such an early stage. It is, nevertheless, important to administer treatment, in order to prevent loosening of the soft connective tissues. As soon as the capsules of such articulations become loosened, the vertebral column loses its firmness and a proliferation of bone on the edge of the vertebrae occurs, with the tendency to form bony bridges and to produce tight interarticular connections. Arthritis, and especially spondylarthritis, if not of infectious origin, is therefore regarded as a form of reparation, with a tendency to tighten interarticular connections wherever the joint capsules become loosened. Therapeutic measures based on such etiology of spondylarthritis are described.