Result: JP
- 11.5 year-old female
- Initial Cobb angle(s) 12°/23°
- Risser 0
JP was first diagnosed with a mild lumbar scoliosis (measuring 23°) at age eleven. At the time, her Risser score was 0 and she was at high risk for progression…. Read More
Mild scoliosis is a spinal curvature measuring 10°-25° according to Cobb angle (measured on an AP/PA scoliosis x-ray). Traditionally, mild scoliosis treatment has only consisted of monitoring or the ‘wait and see’ approach. Not every mild scoliosis will progress, however, it’s difficult to predict which curves will progress and which will remain stable. When scoliosis does progress, it can sometimes happen rapidly and it is not always possible to regain any lost ground. At the moderate/severe scoliosis level, it is also more difficult to influence Cobb angle. For this reason, mild scoliosis treatment is preferable.
There are many situations where you’ll want a second opinion about wait and see advice for mild scoliosis. These include young patients with significant remaining growth (i.e. skeletal immaturity), patients with a family history of scoliosis, and patients with significant spinal rotation and/or postural asymmetry. Curve pattern and curve severity (ex: 10°-15° scoliosis vs. 20°-25° scoliosis) can also play a role in progression risk. It’s worth noting that scoliosis prevalence is equal in boys and girls at the mild phase. However, females with scoliosis are 8 times more likely to experience curvature progression.
At Scoliosis 3DC, our motto is ‘not wait and see’ because we have seen firsthand how early intervention for scoliosis yields the best results. With our comprehensive Schroth method programs, there is no need to wait until scoliosis progresses to take action. In fact, we recommend you don’t wait! Our education-based programs teach patients how to avoid curve progression with simple scoliosis exercises to do at home. Exercises aim to de-rotate, shift and strengthen the spine while in a corrected position. With consistent exercise over time there is the opportunity for potential lasting improvement.
In some cases, patients with mild scoliosis may need to wear a back brace, either part-time (i.e. night-time brace) or full-time. Practitioners will have differing recommendations for brace treatment depending on individual patient factors and estimated progression risk. Patients with a Cobb angle of 25° are on the cusp of mild scoliosis and moderate scoliosis. This is also typically the juncture at which brace treatment begins in a growing adolescent. Again, this is not a hard and fast rule as scoliosis treatment is not one-size-fits-all.
Parents should know that there is a 5° margin of error when measuring scoliosis xrays, which can be even higher when different practitioners are measuring. While frustrating for some parents, it is important to know that measurement discrepancies are a normal thing in scoliosis. It also illustrates the need to not only fixate on Cobb angle number.
In light of this, and the knowledge that scoliosis can progress during periods of rapid growth, we think it is foolish to hold off on scoliosis treatment for a growing adolescent. This is especially true for premenarcheal female patients. For example, if a scoliosis curve measures 23° on an x-ray (and not the typical 25° benchmark for bracing), why wait until the next follow-up x-ray (which is often taken 4-6 months later) and risk the chance that the scoliosis will measure 30° or even higher?
Though unfortunately many patients fall victim to the ‘wait and see’ approach, we offer a proactive approach for mild scoliosis treatment. Please check out our mild scoliosis treatment results, further categorized into two Cobb angle categories: 10°-17° and 18°-25°. If you are interested in contacting us for more information, you can reach Scoliosis 3DC at 781-938-8558 or by email at info@scoliosis3dc.com.
JP was first diagnosed with a mild lumbar scoliosis (measuring 23°) at age eleven. At the time, her Risser score was 0 and she was at high risk for progression…. Read More
This thirteen-year-old Virginia girl presented with an initial Cobb angle of 24º. Her parents opted to have her fit in our corrective scoliosis brace after her older brother achieved good… Read More
This patient came from Washington state to be fit in a Gensingen Brace. It was decided to use a Gensingen Nighttime brace and closely monitor her progress. Nighttime bracing is… Read More
This young patient with juvenile scoliosis came to see Dr. Marc from central NY on two separate occasions for intensive Schroth instruction sessions for her 16 degree scoliosis curve. Six… Read More
A Schroth Best Practice® colleague in Toronto, Canada referred this patient with juvenile scoliosis for a Chêneau-Gensingen® brace. After her second brace fitting, an in-brace x-ray demonstrated a 7º overcorrection… Read More
After this patient’s mom noticed her son’s uneven shoulders, she and her husband consulted with a pediatric orthopedist who suggested they watch, wait and follow up again in four months…. Read More
This young patient from Texas first came to see us as an 11-year-old. Two years after Schroth Best Practice® and Chêneau-Gensingen brace treatment, her curves now measure 12º and 19º…. Read More
This eleven-year-old girl and her mom came to see us from Tennessee. The patient’s mom has severe scoliosis and came to be fit with a Chêneau-Gensingen brace and complete our… Read More
This juvenile scoliosis patient came from Houston, Texas for a Cheneau-Gensingen brace and Schroth Best Practice® instruction. She began with Cobb angles of 14º, 25º and 17° and was considered… Read More
Here’s a case of very mild scoliosis that would certainly be advised to ‘watch and wait’ anywhere else. However, this boy’s mom has severe scoliosis and she wanted to do… Read More
N’s mom sent us an email expressing her elation over her daughter’s result after Schroth method treatment at our facility: “Wish you could see us fist bumping, cartwheeling and grinning from ear-to-ear!!!” “Hope you’re as happy as we are!!!” I am! “ ‘N’ is very happy and this will motivate her to keep doing the exercises.”… Read More
“After a few months of practice, my lower back pain has reduced, it is really a good news and I am planning my next visit to your office [on my next visit to Massachusetts]” Read More
“Julia felt in control, as if she could take responsibility from now on. She learned the exercises precisely and did them regularly. Dr. Moramarco did care about her, giving 120% (maybe 150%) effort during the entire treatment.” Read More