Scoliosis resolved! This is a direct quote from a radiology report from a Boston area hospital regarding one of our patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).
Here’s a case study of one of our favorite cases of a girl who achieved an incredible result. It was a joy to the radiology report for this very hard-working girl who was only thirteen at the time. She has achieved a result spinal surgeons consider “impossible,” as in, “It’s “impossible to correct scoliosis without surgery.”
The report we are quoting, dated December 28, 2016, states, “Previously seen thoracolumbar scoliosis centered at T12-L1 measuring 17 degrees has resolved.” The x-ray report compared our patient’s present state to an x-ray taken on 6-11-2016 when she was mid-treatment under our care. (Initially, E. had a Cobb angle of 26º prior to bracing (May 2015) when at eleven years old she was considered to be at high risk of progression. See an update of this girl’s scoliosis result here:EK2.
Kudos to E. for having the maturity and discipline to help herself. We are grateful that her result will be an inspiration for our other patients who chose Chêneau scoliosis braces. The fact that she has been able to correct scoliosis may even nudge a doubtful parent out there to sit up and take notice. E.: You are making a difference!
When this lovely young girl and her parents first came to see us they, understandably, didn’t want her to wear a scoliosis brace. The family changed their way of thinking after learning more about asymmetric scoliosis bracing and its potential to improve scoliosis.
E. was a model patient, she followed our team’s instructions to the letter. She was also consistent with the various components of her scoliosis exercise program. She wore her scoliosis brace as instructed and she received regular chiropractic adjustments from Dr. Marc post-bracing. During the time she was under our care she grew significantly. However, unlike most kids with scoliosis, she succeeded in correcting her scoliosis, even while growing substantially! As a result, her spine is more stable. Since her scoliosis resolved she will never have to worry about progression in adulthood.
When scoliosis is managed via the right conservative program, improved outcomes are completely feasible, despite what you may have been told.
What do we mean by improved outcomes? For the vast majority of kids, it means at least halted curve progression with improved spinal stability and balance and a visually better posture. For some, like E., it means scoliosis correction – at least to some degree. (Scoliosis correction is defined as > 5º decrease of Cobb angle.)
E. has shown that improving scoliosis is doable–to the ultimate resolution. Other patients have shown significant improvement as well. Click here for more results from other patients.
We typically advise bracing right through to skeletal maturity (Risser 5). However, E. was able to achieve her incredible result and end bracing earlier than Risser 5 because bracing of her incredible result which we attribute to her starting early in the growth process while her spine was still flexible.
You may be wondering what type of result your child can get. That depends on several factors. First, to ensure the best results from conservative scoliosis treatment, treatment must take place in a timely manner. If your child has been diagnosed with a fairly mild curve –for example, a 15º or 20º Cobb angle – and has remaining growth, we strongly recommend you do not follow the watch-and-wait advice you may get.
Unfortunately, with scoliosis, the opportunity for early treatment at smaller Cobb angles doesn’t always exist. The reason for this is that diagnosis comes at different times for different kids and at various Cobb angles. An example of that is a patient we recently saw with curves of 60º thoracic and 60º lumbar. This is considered a double curve pattern. Those curves can appear more balanced than a single curve pattern, especially when the curves are of a similar size. These curves can look less severe than they actually are. Those with moderate or severe scoliosis can still be helped by the right brace and proven methods of scoliosis exercise. Conservative treatment is valuable for patients with scoliosis, no matter the Cobb angle. However, patients with mild and moderate Cobb angles have the best opportunity for curve reduction to some degree.
Aside from initiating treatment in a timely manner, choosing the right treatment approach is imperative! Incorporating a scoliosis exercise program that’s curve-pattern specific is the best approach. Our program begins with education about each patient’s curve pattern since each patient must understand their curve to internalize what must be done to counteract progression. But, that’s only the start. With juvenile scoliosis, or adolescent, scoliosis there is a limited window of opportunity when attempting to initiate scoliosis correction via conservative methods. Choosing the wrong treatment, or doing nothing, can be something that becomes a regret, in more ways than one.
Many factors need to align for a result like E’s. Spinal flexibility is perhaps the most important variable. For our patients who have been successful at correcting scoliosis, completely or to some degree, we attribute their successes to:
- An effective scoliosis brace–braces that are easier to wear than compressive scoliosis braces (for example, the Boston Brace). In a properly designed Chêneau brace, every breath taken in-the-brace is a corrective breath. Kids who we’ve switched from other braces tell us the newer brace is “way more comfortable.” They also like that it closes in the front for greater self-sufficiency, although that has now become more of a norm. The Whisper Brace® is a new innovation in scoliosis bracing and it offers quite a bit of mobility so this is something we will be offering for patients too!
- Compliance. No matter which effective brace you choose for your child, compliance matters. Comfort and mobility are of utmost importance to our team. We will consider your feedback and your child’s needs when helping guide you in the decision regarding which scoliosis brace will work best for you child.
- Excellent in-brace corrections, or possible overcorrection. The spine has the opportunity to move toward the midline.
- Effective Schroth method instruction that’s easier for patients to incorporate into their lives. Attaining and mastering skills that can help prevent scoliosis from worsening can also make a significant difference.
- Taking a positive, proactive approach.
Update: Feb 3, 2025
