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 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 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 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 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: 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 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 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 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[…]
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 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? 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?[…]
Hailey’s Road to Bracing My name is Hailey, and this is my story! I am 12 years old, and I am from Hickman, Nebraska. I discovered I have scoliosis about 2 and a half years ago, but did not start bracing until this summer when my top curve reached 48 degrees and my bottom curve Read more about Hailey’s Road to Bracing[…]
Sophia’s Scoliosis Story Hi everyone!! My name is Sophia (@sophiasscoliosis on instagram), and this is my scoliosis story!! When I was 15, I battled back pain and stiffness for months before finally making an appointment with a spine specialist at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. On October 12th, 2018, I was diagnosed with severe Read more about Sophia’s Scoliosis Story[…]
Four Years and Four Braces Later: Lily’s Bracing Journey Hi! My name is Lily and I am 13 years old and live in Sunriver, Oregon. When I was 9 and in 4th grade I was having a really hard time taking deep breaths so my mom brought me to the doctor. My mom has asthma and Read more about Four Years and Four Braces Later: Lily’s Bracing Journey[…]
Emma’s Scoliosis Story Emma created this wonderful video to share her scoliosis story and to raise awareness during Scoliosis Awareness Month!
No Schroth Physiotherapist in Your Area? What Now? By Rosemary Marchese (Physiotherapist, Schroth and SEAS methods for Scoliosis) Schroth Physiotherapists can be found all around the world. However there is definitely more need in some areas. It might be frustrating if you find yourself with Scoliosis and in need of a Schroth physiotherapist and you Read more about No Schroth Physiotherapist in Your Area? What Now?[…]
Self Posture-Check! Screening Your Back for Scoliosis or Scoliosis Changes By Rosemary Marchese (Physiotherapist) A healthy posture is a great goal to aim for! You can have scoliosis and still make great improvements to your posture in many cases. Checking your back for scoliosis or scoliosis changes is best done by your treating doctor or physiotherapist Read more about Self Posture-Check! Screening Your Back for Scoliosis or Scoliosis Changes[…]
Taking Care Of Your Mental Health Growing up is tough. Growing up while wrapped in a giant scoliosis brace can be even tougher. We all know that bracing can be stressful, and we have research that supports this. Research has shown that bracing can lead to feelings of stress, anger, and shame, and bracers tend Read more about Taking Care Of Your Mental Health[…]
National Scoliosis Center Urges Parents to Check Children’s Spines Experts in spinal abnormalities at the National Scoliosis Center urge parents to be cognizant of changes in their children’s posture or complaints of lower back pain, as these may be indications of a spinal condition. Many of the signs and symptoms of spinal conditions are easily Read more about National Scoliosis Center Urges Parents to Check Children’s Spines[…]
Experts in spinal abnormalities at the National Scoliosis Center urge parents to be cognizant of changes in their children’s posture or complaints of lower back pain, as these may be indications of a spinal condition. Many of the signs and symptoms of spinal conditions are easily identifiable and with early intervention can be successfully treated.
Pain is only one indicator of possible spinal issues, and with conditions such as scoliosis and kyphosis pain is not common. Therefore, it is imperative that parents check for observable physical changes in their children’s spinal alignment.
Here are things to check for:
Unevenness: The most prevalent signs of scoliosis are uneven shoulders, hips, or a curve in the back. When leaning over (i.e., reaching down to touch one’s toes) the two sides of the back will be at different heights.
Lower Back Pain: If adolescents, especially athletes, complain of back pain and stiffness, they might be suffering from lumbar spondylolysis. Often this pain is caused by injuries due to overuse and intense physical exercise. Lumbar spondylolysis is characterized by a degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae.
Slouching: If parents notice a slouching or hunchback posture in their child it might be indicative of Schuermann’s Kyphosis. This condition is found in teens during or after a growth spurt and causes a forward rounding curvature in the back due to abnormal growth of vertebrae. Patients with Schuermann’s disease are physically unable to straighten their back.
Falling or Difficulty Walking/Running: Juvenile Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type III, is a rare genetic abnormality characterized by muscle weakness and atrophy. It is typically identified in young children, but can present in adolescents as well. Parents might notice decreased muscle strength, especially in the legs.
Luke Stikeleather, Founder and President of the National Scoliosis Center (Baltimore, MD and Fairfax, VA), encourages parents to talk with their child’s physician if they notice any of these signs or symptoms. “When abnormalities and curves are identified early and we intervene effectively with bracing, we can have a very successful outcome without resorting to invasive surgery,” says Stikeleather.
Luke Stikeleather is an internationally recognized scoliosis expert, with over 30 years in the field. He is an associate fellow of the Scoliosis Research Society and founding member and 2018-19 president of the International Society of Spinal Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment.