This Year 3,000,000 Children Will Be Diagnosed with Scoliosis

What to do in the event of a positive diagnosis

According to Johns Hopkins University, 3 million children between the ages of 10 and 12 will be diagnosed with Scoliosis this year. Children at middle schools across the country will be screened for scoliosis – If your child returns from school with a positive diagnosis or even mentions back pain, don’t panic!

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine and not uncommon in children. Viewed from an X-ray, Scoliosis curves might look like an “S”, or a “C” shape depending on the particular case. Scoliosis can result in a reduced range of motion, cardiovascular problems, and pain from inflammation or spasms.

Research has proven, it is easier to lower the degree of the curve while the curve is small and the child is young. Before your child hits puberty and his or her growth plates are locked in place is the ideal time for treatment. With the school year in full swing, as well as sports, activities, and summer vacation coming along, the goal is to keep our children healthy. As parents and partners, at South Florida Scoliosis Center we make sure the solutions for Scoliosis are easy and available to all!

Following are our various Scoliosis Treatment Programs designed for Children and Teens:

  • Teen Curves Camp: a 5-10 day summer camp where kids encourage one another as they straighten their spines using state-of-the-art equipment. Goals of this individually customized physical therapy are to provide pre-emptive treatment for curves below 25 degrees, reduce curves below 25 degrees, and provide a long-term plan for your child’s scoliosis treatment. We also have treatment and intensive care treatment for children and teens during convenient after school hours.
  • Intensive Care Scoliosis Treatment for children and teens: developed to reduce and/or correct Scoliosis in all ages without the use of bracing or surgery. Patients perform a two-week treatment plan tracked by x-rays taken before and after the treatment. Following the two weeks patients return home with an in-home rehabilitation program.
  • Scoliosis treatment for children and teens: a comprehensive program, including x-rays, a variety of customized physical therapies, follow-ups, and at-home participation. After initial x-rays, we begin physical therapy, make chiropractic adjustments, and then “set” the spine in its corrected position. We follow-up with our patients, performing post-treatment x-rays and tracking at-home therapies.

At South Florida Scoliosis Center we continuously develop our treatment programs to encompass minor curves below 25 degrees to severe curves above 40 degrees. We will assess your teen’s probabilities for scoliosis progression, provide a long-term plan for treatment, and reduce and/or eliminate curves all together. From moderate instances that are easier to manage to severe cases where pain is present, we have reliable treatments prepared to help your child overcome Scoliosis. In the event that your child is one of the 3 million children diagnosed with Scoliosis this year, we are here to help you keep them healthy.


South Florida Scoliosis Center is the only CLEAR Scoliosis Treatment Center in the South Florida area in addition to being one in only 18 worldwide clinics to offer Intensive Care Scoliosis Treatment. South Florida Scoliosis Center draws patients from the entire state as well as from countries abroad.

For information on available treatments for scoliosis, contact us at South Florida Scoliosis Center 305-705-0777, or visit www.southfloridascoliosiscenter.com


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Back to Schooliosis: How to Keep Your Child Safe with Scoliosis

Back to SchooliosisPack up the beach toys and bring out the books. It’s time to go back to school and your child is going to a new grade! A new school year means new backpacks, new teachers, and a whole lot of homework. Although we are well aware of how homework affects the stress levels of our children’s brains, we also need to be aware of how homework is affecting the stress on our children’s backs.

According to the American Physical Therapy Association your child’s backpack should never exceed 10-15% of their body weight. However, with long lists of school supplies, and practically non-existent locker availability, your children are often forced to bear more than the suggested amount. This could be extremely damaging, especially in the case of children with scoliosis. It may seem like a difficult issue to remedy, but if you follow these simple steps you are well on your way to providing a safer and more stress-free school experience for your child.

Simple Steps for Backpack Success

  1. Lighten the load – This seems like the most obvious thing, but you’d be surprised how much your child is carrying in their backpack that they don’t need. Make it easier for your child by helping them get organized and knowing what they need to bring to school ahead of time, so that they are not lugging everything back and forth every day.
  2. Set an example – You are your child’s greatest role model. You can encourage them to practice healthy posture habits by doing so yourself, and talking to them about it. Good habits start at home!
  3. Buying the Right Backpack – finding a supportive and comfortable backpack is crucial to ensuring your child’s safety. Here are some things to look for when choosing a new backpack.
      • Lightweight – Not all packs are created equal. Compare the weights of various backpacks and try to go for the lightest one to make sure the backpack itself is not adding too much to the load.
      • Padding – One of the problems with backpacks is that if they are not properly padded, they can restrict circulation in the shoulder area. Make sure the backpack has two wide padded shoulder straps.
      • Multiple Compartments – This is often overlooked as an essential part of a safe backpack. Multiple compartments allow for proper organization of materials, and will more evenly distribute the weight in the pack.

School has just begun – take advantage of this opportunity and make sure you get the right backpack for your child!

Always encourage your child to tell you about any discomfort concerning his backpack and pay attention to any symptoms he or she may be experiencing.

For more information about taking on the school year with scoliosis, contact us at South Florida Scoliosis Center 305-705-0777, or visit www.southfloridascoliosiscenter.com.

South Florida Scoliosis Center is the only CLEAR Scoliosis Treatment Center in the South Florida area in addition to being one in only 18 worldwide clinics to offer Intensive Care Scoliosis Treatment. South Florida Scoliosis Center draws patients from the entire state as well as from countries abroad.

For information on available treatments for scoliosis, contact us at South Florida Scoliosis Center 305-705-0777, or visit www.southfloridascoliosiscenter.com


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Dreaming of Gold doesn’t have to be a Scoliosis Nightmare

Scoliosis and Gold

For years, Scoliosis has been a real concern for Olympic athletes such as:

Usain Bolt – The most decorated sprinter of all time, Jamaican four-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter, Olympic record holder reigning Olympic champion in the 100 and 200 metres and the 4×100 meter relay

Alexandra Marinescu – Romanian Olympic gymnast and European Junior Champion at age 12

Jon Olsen – United States freestyle swimmer and five time Olympic medalist

Jennifer Thompson – United States swimmer, and one of the most decorated Olympians in history, 12 time Olympic medalist, including eight gold in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympics.

Although Scoliosis is a very serious and sometimes limiting condition, these professional athletes were able to overcome the difficulties it brought and go on to live their athletic dreams.

In the past, scoliosis would have been considered a great threat to the careers of many athletes. Thankfully, advancements in the field have discovered considerably better options for the treatment of scoliosis. Non-invasive, non-surgical and non-bracing alternatives eliminate the need to wear bulky braces that cause embarrassment or self-consciousness. No longer is it necessary to go through surgical procedures that will fuse permanent rods along the spine causing multiple complications throughout adulthood. Our Clear certified treatment is effective and completely non-invasive.

As of July of 2013, South Florida Scoliosis Center has become one of 18 clinics worldwide to be able to provide Intensive Care Treatment for Scoliosis. Generally a one to two week program of intensive therapy designed to reduced the curvature of a scoliotic spine. Our Intensive Care Patients have come from far away countries such as Anguilla, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dubai, Curacao, Denmark, Israel and more to enjoy the benefits of our intensive care treatment program. Now if Usain Bolt had had that option- imagine the possibilities…

If you or your athlete has been diagnosed with scoliosis, contact us at South Florida Scoliosis Center 305-705-0777, or visit www.southfloridascoliosiscenter.com.

South Florida Scoliosis Center is the only CLEAR Scoliosis Treatment Center in the South Florida area in addition to being one in only 18 worldwide clinics to offer Intensive Care Scoliosis Treatment. South Florida Scoliosis Center draws patients from the entire state as well as from countries abroad.

For information on available treatments for scoliosis, contact us at South Florida Scoliosis Center 305-705-0777, or visit www.southfloridascoliosiscenter.com


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HOP TO IT! It’s time to stop waiting… Scoliosis

HOP TO IT! It’s time to stop waiting…

HOP TO IT! It’s time to stop waiting… ScoliosisHas your child recently been diagnosed with Scoliosis and you’re in the “Wait and See if it progresses” mode? Well you’re not alone!

Every year 15% of all grade school kids screened for scoliosis result in a positive diagnosis and yet many physicians still suggest three basic methods of treatment: observation, bracing, and/or surgery – based on the severity of the curve. However, new research now shows that alternative non-invasive options are more effective in the treatment of scoliosis.

At South Florida Scoliosis Center our work and successes have proven that treating Mild Scoliosis curves- those between 10° to 25 can significantly reduce and many times halt the progression of scoliosis. Using a CLEAR™ certified approach our physicians are able to assist our patients, young and old, in actively reducing the curvature of the spine without invasive surgical procedures and unsightly braces. Our unique non-bracing, non-surgical plan has proven time and again an effective advance in the treatment of scoliosis. We offer customized plans to fit our clients including: Scoliosis and Adult Scoliosis Treatment plans, Teen Curves Summer Camp, Scoliosis Boot Camp and Intensive Care Treatment – South Florida Scoliosis Center is one of only 16 certified CLEAR Intensive Scoliosis Care Clinics in the world.

So don’t you think it’s time to stop waiting?

Hop to it and give us a call – let us take care of those curves while they’re small!

305-705-0777

Facts About Mild Stage Scoliosis:

Scoliosis curve 10° to 25° – Mild Scoliosis has a significant risk of progression: up to 22%. Once the scoliosis passes 20°, risk of progression more than triples to 68%.Scoliosis Awareness T-Shirt

  • Scoliosis curve is less than 25°
  • May have tilted head, uneven shoulders or hips
  • Head may appear forward of shoulders when viewed from the side
  • Clothing may hang unevenly
  • May have uneven leg lengths
  • May go unnoticed, even by medical doctors or school screeners
  • May or may not be associated with pain
  • Most common in young, premenstrual girls, but can be seen in boys or adults.

To purchase one of our Scoliosis Awareness Tshirts for $10 click here.

Scoliosis Screening – What are we looking for?

Scoliosis Screening – What are we looking for?

Scoliosis Screening – What are we looking for?

Scoliosis is a spinal condition causing abnormal side to side curves in the spine. Because scoliosis often develops during childhood it’s recommended that children be screened for scoliosis yearly as early detection of Scoliosis is the key to correcting or slowing the progress of these abnormal curves.

Without proper screening scoliosis can go undetected. Most cases of scoliosis are painless and have no symptoms other than a curve in the back that, depending on the severity of the curve, may or may not be outwardly visible. Because many adolescents do not receive yearly physical exams, unless suffering from health issues, opportunities for early detection of scoliosis are often missed.

We all can agree that schools have the greatest contact with adolescents which makes them prime venues for scoliosis screening. Did you know that Florida Legislature 381.0056 now mandates scoliosis screenings to be performed annually for students in grade six? Statistics state that 15% of adolescents screened in school programs result in a positive diagnosis for scoliosis.

So what should you do if your child comes home with a scoliosis referral? First- don’t panic! Although a diagnosis of scoliosis can be scary, there are now available effective, non-invasive treatments that can stop the onset of scoliosis. Many physicians still suggest three basic methods of treatment- observation, bracing, and surgery. However, new research shows that alternative non-invasive options are more effective in the treatment of the curve.