Manual correction and kinesitherapeutic stabilization of somatoform autonomic dysfunction according to the Potapenco Spine Therapy concept in young women with chronic interscapular pain

ABSTRACT Background. Chronic interscapular pain in women aged 25–40 is frequently comorbid with somatoform autonomic dysfunction.Objective. To evaluate the phased clinical efficacy of the author's proprietary Potapenco Spine Therapy concept in young women using the newly developed 74-item PRQ (Potapenco Roman Questionnaire) complaint checklist and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).Methods. Ten women (mean age 31.7 ± 4.7 years) presenting with chronic interscapular pain and associated somatoform autonomic symptoms were enrolled in this prospective clinical study. The protocol was implemented strictly within the unified Potapenco Spine concept methodology, consisting of two mandatory phases. Phase I (Intensive Manual): 10 combined manual correction and structured cinematherapy sessions (60 min each, daily from Monday to Friday). Phase II (Stabilization Kinesitherapy): a 1-month home-based stabilization regimen consisting of an author's complex of 10–12 specialized individualized exercises (kinetoterapie), performed twice daily for 30–35 minutes after targeted individual instruction. Patient status was evaluated at baseline, post-Phase I, and at 1-month follow-up via active complaint counts on the PRQ matrix and the VAS.Results. A highly statistically significant (p < 0.001) regression of multi-system clinical symptoms was achieved. The mean number of active complaints reported on the PRQ matrix dropped from 62.1 ± 8.46 to 6.1 ± 3.78 (a 90.2% total reduction). Simultaneously, mean VAS pain scores decreased from 8.8 ± 1.69 to 1.0 ± 1.05 points (an 88.6% reduction). The clinical plateau remained completely stable at the 1-month follow-up across 100% of the patient cohort, with zero instances of recurrence.Conclusion. The unified two-phase Potapenco Spine concept provides high target efficacy, comprehensively resolving acute myofascial blocks, reducing cortical stress, and ensuring long-term functional stabilization via custom kinesitherapy. The 74-item PRQ proved to be a highly sensitive, reliable, and valid instrument for clinical monitoring and quality control in neuromuscular rehabilitation.