Scolios-us
Watch our VIDEO
The purpose of our video, “Welcome to Scoliosis Bracing with Scolios-us,” video is to give you an honest look into scoliosis bracing from people who are living it.
EXPLORE our amazing RESOURCES
These resources are a great place to look for information, help, and support along your scoliosis journey!
Visit our blog page
See what people like you are saying about living life with scoliosis! You can even become one of our bloggers by simply emailing us at the bottom of the page!
learn about bracing, exercises, and more
Being diagnosed with scoliosis can be a bit of an overwhelming experience. Here you will find info about bracing, physical therapy, surgery, and more.
What is Scolios-us?
Scolios-us is a web-based platform intended to empower scoliosis patients with the tools and resources they need to be successful brace-wearers.
The scolios-us TEAM
Megan Glahn, CPO/LPO
Kelly Grimes, PT
Jocie Zenner Strom
YOU
Want to guide new bracers through the bracing process? Sign up to become an official Scolios-us Bracing Mentor!
Our blog posts
A Long Journey from Anxiety to Gratitude
A Long Journey from Anxiety to Gratitude Written by Marja Heinonen My daughter, Kaisa, was seven when she was diagnosed with scoliosis. She wore scoliosis braces for nine years, from seven to 16. I could have hardly imagined that the foremost emotions seventeen years later would be gratitude and pride. But those are the feelings Read more about A Long Journey from Anxiety to Gratitude[…]
Growing Up in a Brace
Growing Up in a Brace By Kaisa Virolainen I was 7 years old when I was diagnosed with scoliosis in 2004. My scoliosis was juvenile (referring to childhood) and idiopathic (referring to unknown origin), and because I was so young, a brace was a more suitable option than a surgery. I would wear a brace, Read more about Growing Up in a Brace[…]
Let Them Play Sports! Addressing the Topic of Sports and Scoliosis
Let Them Play Sports! Addressing the Topic of Sports and Scoliosis The discovery of scoliosis or other spine structural changes often leads to a myriad of follow-up questions. Among them, discussion around the role of sports participation. Bottom line – let them continue to play sports! Let’s dig in a bit deeper. Today’s blog post Read more about Let Them Play Sports! Addressing the Topic of Sports and Scoliosis[…]
Mehta Casting
Mehta Casting Written by Pediatric RN, Sarah Tollison What is Mehta casting? Mehta casting is a series of casts that are changed every 2-3 months that gently straighten a child’s spine. The cast is made out of either plaster of paris or fiberglass and is shaped around their torso. There is a hole for their Read more about Mehta Casting[…]
Creating a Welcoming Environment for Your Scoliosis Patients
Creating a Welcoming Environment for Your Scoliosis Patients When patients first enter our O&P offices, they are frequently already overwhelmed. Many have just found out about their scoliosis. Others have been being observed for years, but were just told that their curves have worsened. Emotions are high as they enter our office for their initial Read more about Creating a Welcoming Environment for Your Scoliosis Patients[…]
Tips for Heading Back to School from Fellow Bracers
Tips for Heading Back to School We polled our scoli warriors to help get you ready to go back to school with your scoliosis brace! We asked them about different topics, and here are their responses: “If you feel like you want to hide your brace, you can wear your pants/shorts over your brace, then Read more about Tips for Heading Back to School from Fellow Bracers[…]
Dancing Through Scoliosis
Dancing Through Scoliosis My name is Aika Takagi. I’m 13 years old. I wanted to share my scoliosis and dance journey. My scoliosis and dance journey are intertwined through my love for dance and pushing myself to do better in everything I do. When I was 11, I was diagnosed with scoliosis. Scoliosis is where Read more about Dancing Through Scoliosis[…]
Questions To Ask Your Orthotist
Questions To Ask Your Orthotist Being measured and fit with your brace can be an overwhelming experience for lots of new bracers. You may forget to ask questions or not know what to ask. We’ve got you covered! Here is a list of questions to get you started. Brace Type and Function Is bracing commonly Read more about Questions To Ask Your Orthotist[…]
Evie’s Bracing Success
Evie’s Bracing Success When I was in 5th grade, my gymnastics coach first spotted my scoliosis. I was then diagnosed with around a 40° lumbar curve and 22° thoracic curve in my spine and was placed in a Boston brace that I wore 20 hours a day. I remember the first thing I did was Read more about Evie’s Bracing Success[…]
Lydia’s Curvy Journey
Lydia’s Curvy Journey My name is Lydia and I live in Columbia, South Carolina. My journey with scoliosis has been just as curvy as my back. It all started when I was in 5th grade with a routine back test during gym class. When I got out of the dressing room, I got a note Read more about Lydia’s Curvy Journey[…]
Megan’s Scoli Journey in Malaysia
Megan’s Scoli Journey in Malaysia Hi, my name is Megan and I’m just a regular 16-year-old who lives in the south of Malaysia. I first found out I had scoliosis when I was 12/13-years-old when a doctor noticed I was standing a bit slouched. Fast forward half a year with all the appointments and chiropractor Read more about Megan’s Scoli Journey in Malaysia[…]
What Causes Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis?
What Do We Know About What Causes Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis? HINT: It’s not caused by your child’s posture, backpack-carrying habits, or body mechanics Every so often, during my physical therapy evaluation with a family who has just discovered their teen has scoliosis, I will be asked the following set of questions: “Is it their posture Read more about What Causes Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis?[…]
National Scoliosis Center Uses iButton to Track Brace Wear Time in Patients
National Scoliosis Center Uses iButton to Track Brace Wear Time in Patients Successful scoliosis treatment for teens and children who select bracing to help them avoid surgery primarily depends on two factors – competency of the medical care team and brace wearing compliance by the patient. One of the biggest challenges for parents and the Read more about National Scoliosis Center Uses iButton to Track Brace Wear Time in Patients[…]
We’re In This Together
We’re In This Together: Creating A Support Network For Girls With Scoliosis Abby is 12 years old and was diagnosed with scoliosis in 2018. Shortly after, she was fit with her scoliosis brace at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Portland. She and her mom, Christine, began looking to connect with fellow bracers around Abby’s age. Read more about We’re In This Together[…]
Turning Lemons into Lemonade
Turning Lemons into Lemonade Try to turn your bracing experience into a positive journey. Just think, when you bump into things where your brace is, it does not hurt since you hit your brace instead. You also have an instant table to write on when you take it off, and you can open straws really Read more about Turning Lemons into Lemonade[…]
Advice for Parents of Bracers
Advice for Parents of BracersHaving had scoliosis herself, Aika’s mom shares her perspective and advice for parents of scoliosis bracers. Watch below!
A Day in a Boston Brace & Brace Tips
A Day in a Boston Brace & Brace Tips Hi my name is Aika. I wanted to share a little about a day in a Boston brace. I have to wear my brace between 16-18 hour a day, so I choose my “off” time for when I am training as a competitive Irish dancer. I Read more about A Day in a Boston Brace & Brace Tips[…]
My Biggest Supporter
Aika’s Adventures: My Biggest Supporter My name is Aika. I was diagnosed with scoliosis a month after my 11th birthday. I was scared when I first heard but then was quickly relieved. My biggest supporter, my mother, is a scoliosis success story, although during her journey, she had days where she did not feel that Read more about My Biggest Supporter[…]
Aika’s Adventures
Aika’s Adventures My name is Aika. I was diagnosed with scoliosis a month after my 11th birthday. Within 10 months, my T/L curve had jumped 11 degrees to 32 degrees, which meant bracing was the next step. I was nervous when I heard I needed to get a brace; however, there are a LOT Read more about Aika’s Adventures[…]
What Is Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercise All About?
What Is Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercise All About? Author Kelly Grimes, Physiotherapist (Full disclosure: I am a physiotherapist who has PSSE training. This is my take on PSSE.) Here is your brief lowdown on specific exercise for scoliosis and spine structural variations. If you’re an individual with scoliosis, kyphosis, or other spine structural variations, or a Read more about What Is Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercise All About?[…]