| Scoliosis is a disease of the neuro-muscular | | | | failure because a non-surgical non-bracing method |
| system that has long challenged health care | | | | which has the consistent ability to reduce and |
| professionals worldwide. The current treatment | | | | stabilize this highly progressive disease is a |
| options or lack of any treatment for most | | | | tremendous accomplishment and will most likely |
| families dealing with an early detection of this | | | | revolutionize the treatment of adolescent |
| disease can be very frustrating. In most cases | | | | idiopathic scoliosis. Several news stations nationally |
| children diagnosed with scoliosis are told they have | | | | as well as magazines have done stories and |
| it and the healthcare team will monitor it to see if | | | | interviews with patients who have undergone this |
| it gets worse. This would be similar to having a | | | | program of scoliosis care. It is considered a major |
| doctor tell you that you have a highly progressive | | | | success if you are able to stop scoliosis curve |
| cancer but we will wait until it spreads before we | | | | progression let alone reduce the actual curve |
| can do anything for you. Statistically, scoliosis is | | | | measurement without the use of bracing, casting, |
| progressive in most cases. | | | | or surgery. |
| So where does this leave children with scoliosis | | | | Families with early detection of scoliosis can be |
| diagnosed below 25 degrees commonly referred | | | | proactive. The status quo of watching and waiting |
| to as early detection? The general medical | | | | for the inevitable train wreck is no longer your |
| approach is to wait until the curve reaches 25 | | | | only option. Doctors have developed a scoliosis |
| degrees at which time the orthopedic specialist will | | | | treatment option that is ideal for curves under 30 |
| recommend bracing. The most common form of | | | | degrees. The reason for the lack of a complete |
| bracing is a hard brace which is to be worn on | | | | correction with curves above 30 degrees is due |
| average 22 hours daily until skeletal maturity or | | | | to the inherent nature of scoliosis as a feed |
| until the curve advances to 40 degrees at which | | | | forward mechanism. Meaning once the curve |
| point they will push for surgical intervention. | | | | progresses to 30 or above, the "crankshaft |
| What medical practitioners typically don't tell you is | | | | phenomenon" kicks in, which creates massive |
| that once the curve reaches 25 degrees the | | | | rotation coupled with lateral flexion and |
| likelihood of progression is 68% even with most | | | | compression. This phenomenon is very difficult to |
| bracing attempts. So that leaves nearly 70% of | | | | undo in fact, invasive surgery can not even fully |
| the families with a highly progressive disease that | | | | correct this mechanism. When a scoliosis reaches |
| ends up involving surgical intervention, a highly | | | | the 30 degree mark, the crankshaft mechanism |
| invasive surgery with significant post surgical | | | | begins, and the chance of progression skyrockets. |
| ramifications. I don't know about you, but if my | | | | This is also why a 50 degree scoliosis may reduce |
| daughter was offered this solution as the only | | | | to 30 degrees using this alternative method, which |
| option, I would be very frustrated, scared, and | | | | is fantastic, but the scoliosis still remains alive. It |
| disappointed in our healthcare system for not | | | | has not been fully corrected and therefore has |
| coming up with a better alternative to effectively | | | | the innate potential to want to continue to grow. |
| combat scoliosis early on before it reaches critical | | | | By attacking the scoliosis before it reaches this |
| levels where bracing and surgery becomes the | | | | pivotal point of 30 degrees you can typically |
| only option. | | | | correct the scoliosis. You can in most cases |
| A non-profit organization dedicated to finding a | | | | eliminate the scoliosis with non scoliosis |
| cure for scoliosis has developed a system that | | | | measurements of 10 degrees or less, thus |
| can effectively reduce and stabilize scoliosis | | | | defeating the disease rather than merely taming |
| without bracing or surgery. In fact, the majority | | | | it. Imagine having the opportunity to fix the |
| of the scoliosis cases treated by this alternative | | | | problem before it spirals out of control giving you |
| methodology have been the result of patient's | | | | the freedom to go about your life without having |
| facing surgery where bracing attempts have failed | | | | to constantly worry about what the scoliosis is |
| to stop progression. This means a huge portion of | | | | doing or what it will become. This scoliosis |
| scoliosis cases that have been reduced and | | | | program has the potential to become the first line |
| stabilized using these new protocols have been | | | | of defense against childhood scoliosis. At some |
| above the 40 degree level. This spinal rehabilitation | | | | point this technology will be the standard |
| program was originally designed to correct | | | | recommendation and hopefully replace the current |
| scoliosis. Correction, meaning take scoliosis | | | | "watch and wait" do nothing recommendation |
| generally above 30 degrees Cobb angle and | | | | currently in place for children diagnosed with |
| correct it to what is considered non-scoliosis level | | | | scoliosis below 25 degrees. Doctors through |
| generally 10 degrees or less. | | | | research and new technology have the potential |
| The majority of cases over 30 degrees have not | | | | to "cure" this disease, but it must start from a |
| corrected to this ideal 10 degrees or less range. | | | | solid program of early detection and referral to |
| The average reduction in Cobb angle | | | | the appropriate treatment facility rather than a |
| measurement is 30-50% using what's called "MIX | | | | watch and wait system that is antiquated and |
| FIX SET" methodology. Now this is in no way a | | | | dangerous. |