Scoliosis surgeons have claimed for years, and most still do, that it is impossible to correct scoliosis without surgery. In this post we are happy to report on one of our young patients who is proving the doctors wrong again – this time in a very big way!
D. came to Scoliosis 3DC® in September 2014, six months after being diagnosed with scoliosis. At that time, her Cobb angles were 27º thoracic, 29º thoracolumbar and 20º lumbosacral. She was pre-menarchal, Risser 0, and not yet ten years old – meaning she was at high risk for scoliosis progression.
D. participated in our intensive scoliosis program. Our team educated her about her scoliosis. They showed her how to incorporate the Schroth concepts into her daily life. D. went home and took heed of their advice. She continued to wear the Boston Brace she already had but unfortunately, she didn’t tolerate it well.
Still, within seven months (see April 2015 x-ray), the scoliosis exercises D. learned helped her stabilize her thoracic curve to 24º and reduce her thoracolumbar curve to 18º ( down 11 degrees, 38% reduction). A pretty good result, but at ten-and-a-half years old, D. was about to start a growth spurt.
Her parents had learned about Cheneau style bracing from Europe from Dr. Marc. They were impressed by the asymmetric design, liked that it was not a compression brace and that it was a Schroth-compatible product that incorporated the same 3D overcorrection principles as the Schroth exercises. They also liked that Dr. Marc told them that Chêneau braces strive for spinal improvement rather than only halted progression.
D. had another out-of-brace x-ray in September 2015 to track her progress. Her x-ray revealed an 11º reduction of her thoracic curve (now measuring 13º, not the 24° before she started treatment at Scoliosis 3DC®). Her thoracolumbar curve also improved, measuring at 16°.
When D. returned to be measured for her second brace with a new x-ray in hand her thoracic curve measured only 7° – which is not even considered scoliosis! That’s a 17º reduction from her original 27º thoracic curve (63% curve reduction). The thoracolumbar curve had resolved. Additionally, her lumbosacral curve which originally measured 20° to the right, now measured 4° to the left (a 120% correction – or put simply, an overcorrection.
You may notice that the placement of the Cobb angle measurements on her x-rays has changed over time. This is to be expected during the treatment process. As bracing and exercise influence the scoliosis curve(s) the curve pattern can sometimes change.
D. is living proof that when the correct Schroth-based protocols are taken, and followed, before a growth spurt, then the potential for improvement of scoliosis does exist.
And remember…scoliosis doesn’t wait, so don’t wait and see.
*This scoliosis success story represents one individual patient’s experience and ability to correct scoliosis without surgery. It in no way represents or implies that every patient will get the same result! However, for best results, don’t wait and see with scoliosis.
