The Efficacy of the Nicolescu Protocol in the Treatment of Kyphosis in Adults

The effectiveness of a therapeutic method is determined by both the time required to achieve the desired results and its long-term retention. This study aimed to assess the clinical and postural effects of the Nicolescu Protocol in adults with thoracic kyphosis. A longitudinal, prospective case-control design was employed, involving 80 participants (40 women and 40 men, aged 30-40 years) who completed a six-month intervention program consisting of three supervised sessions per week (60-75 minutes). Postural assessment was performed using the Kinetisense 3D system, analyzing sagittal plumb-line deviations before and after the intervention, while statistical analysis was conducted using a paired t-test for dependent samples. The therapeutic strategy focused on correcting neuromuscular imbalances through targeted muscle activation and relaxation techniques, while adhering to fundamental training principles, including intensity, specificity and reversibility. Results demonstrated large and statistically significant reductions across all sagital markers in both sexes (e.g., head, spine, shoulders, pelvis, all p<0.001), with very large effect sizes and no significant sex or age related differences. Clinically, participants reported pain resolution, increased joint range of motion and muscular mobility within the first 30 days, absence of regression throughout the intervention period, reductions in body weight and improvements in muscle tone and strength. These findings indicate that the Nicolescu Protocol is an effective physiotherapeutic approach for improving thoracic posture, reducing pain, and enhancing neuromuscular function in adults with kyphotic posture. Further research is recommended to validate these outcomes across broader age ranges and clinical settings.