That Was Then… This is NOW! – New Hope for Scoliosis Patients

That Was Then… This is NOW! – New Hope for Scoliosis Patients

That Was Then… This is NOW! – New Hope for Scoliosis PatientsScoliosis is a condition in which an individual’s spine has lateral, or side to side curvature and affects as many as 12 million people – worldwide. Very often, Scoliosis is detected during a child’s routine pediatric appointment or at a scoliosis screening exam at school during 6th grade (Florida statute 381.0056 requires that scoliosis screening be done on 6th grade students.)

What to do if your child is diagnosed with Scoliosis:

Left untreated the progression of scoliosis can cause deformity of the spine, respiratory, cardiac and digestive problems, as well as debilitating pain. Although a diagnosis of scoliosis can be scary, effective, non-invasive treatments that can stop the onset of scoliosis are now available.

That Was THEN:

The conventional medical management of scoliosis involves monitoring, bracing, medication and/or surgery. If the patient is still growing, progression is monitored by x-ray and then follow-up x-rays every few months.

If the curve progresses, a spinal brace intended to prevent further progression is typically recommended. Spinal braces tend to be uncomfortable and awkward posing a compliance challenge to the self-conscious adolescent.

If the scoliotic curve progresses beyond a certain point, the patient may then be recommended for spinal surgery. An invasive procedure where a metal rod is surgically fused to the spine to straighten it out.

Medication is suggested only as a means for symptomatic relief.

Many physicians still suggest three basic methods of treatment- observation, bracing and surgery. However, research now shows that alternative non-invasive options are more effective in the treatment of the curve.

THIS IS NOW:

At South Florida Scoliosis Center we provide a unique non-bracing, non-surgical plan effective in the treatment of scoliosis. Using the CLEAR™ Institute methodologies our physicians are able to assist our patients in actively reducing the curvature of the spine without invasive surgical procedures and unsightly braces.

In light of the severity of conventional treatment, chiropractic care is the most logical approach for scoliosis management. At South Florida Scoliosis Center we are able to provide our patients with a hands on, non-invasive and drug-free treatment to correct the underlying mechanical problems of scoliosis. We assist our patients in relieving pain organically and empower them to continue any necessary home care corrective and postural awareness exercises that may be required.

Benefits of Our Scoliosis Treatment Method

  • Reduces scoliosis curvature of the spine
  • Prevents further curvature of the spine
  • Relieves pain and discomfort
  • Alleviates the embarrassment of deformity
  • Allows patients increased range of motion
  • Less expensive than traditional scoliosis treatments

Using these protocols we have been successful time and time again in reducing and reversing the progression of the scoliotic spine. No embarrassing brace to wear, no casting and no surgery!

At South Florida Scoliosis Center we are continuously improving and developing our methods of treatment to provide our patients better alternatives for curves of all degrees.

Has Your Child Been Diagnosed with Scoliosis? Here’s What You Need to Know…

Has Your Child Been Diagnosed with Scoliosis? Here’s What You Need to Know…

Has Your Child Been Diagnosed with Scoliosis? Here’s What You Need to Know…Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that affects as many as 12 million people worldwide. Left untreated the progression of scoliosis can cause deformity of the spine, respiratory, cardiac and digestive problems, as well as debilitating pain.

Scoliosis may often be detected during a child’s routine pediatric appointment or during a scoliosis screening exam at school. Oftentimes the signs of scoliosis aren’t obvious until the child’s growth spurt occurs therefore, experts recommend that girls get screened, at ages 10 and again at 12, because they are at higher risk for scoliosis than boys. Boys should generally get screened once between the ages of 13 and 15.

Once your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis, time is now of the essence. The sooner you can treat scoliosis the more successful you will be in stopping the progression of the curve.

At South Florida Scoliosis Center we have been successful in reversing the symptoms of scoliosis by using a non-surgical, non-bracing treatment. Using a methodology designed by Clear™ Institute we use the following 3 steps:

Step 1- MIX
The patient warms up their spine by using several different techniques including the Active Rehabilitation Chair, Cervical Traction, and Vibrating Traction, the goal of which is re-structuring & re-modeling the ligaments after they have been relaxed.

Step 2- FIX
The patient is now primed to receive their chiropractic adjustment. Adjusting instruments and specialized drop pieces enhance the precision & effectiveness of chiropractic care, and reduce the amount of force required to correct the scoliotic spine.

Step 3- SET
Immediately after the adjustment is completed, the spine will be “set” in its corrected position to ensure the permanency of the changes. This involves spinal weighting (typically on the head & hips), whole-body vibration therapy, the Scoliosis Traction Chair, and gait therapy to re-train patterns of moving & walking.

In addition to our Mix, Fix, Set system we may continue to treat the spine with a series of follow up visits and customized home exercises specifically designed for your child’s scoliosis curve.

Using these protocols we have been successful time and time again in reducing and reversing the progression of the scoliotic spine. No embarrassing brace for your child to wear, no casting and no surgery!

At South Florida Scoliosis Center we are continuously improving and developing our methods of treatment to provide our patients better alternatives for curves of all degrees.

Thankful for Better Options – Say NO to Bracing and Surgery!

Thankful for Better Options – Say NO to Bracing and Surgery!

Thankful for Better Options – Say NO to Bracing and Surgery!Imagine taking your healthy teenage child for his or her annual check up, only to leave with a diagnosis of Scoliosis… Now what?

Depending on the severity of your child’s scoliosis curve we’re guessing you heard one of the following:

A – “Let’s wait and see if it progresses…”

B – You were referred to a specialist to get your child fitted for a brace that he or she would have to wear for 23 hours a day in the hopes that it will minimize, or stop the progression of the curve or

C – You were referred to an orthopedic surgeon to discuss surgical options in which your child would have a rod fused to his or her spine, again, in the hopes that this procedure would minimize or correct the existing curve.

I’m sure you were thinking…

“What??? Are those truly my only options?”

Thankfully, not anymore.

Using protocols developed by Clear Institute, certified physicians at South Florida Scoliosis Center can now offer patients a safer non-invasive method of treating scoliosis that will not only minimize your child’s scoliosis curve, but when diagnosed and treated in its early stages, correct the curve in it’s entirety!

Using specialized rehabilitation equipment, bio-vibration protocols and a series of exercises we can customize treatment to correct your, or your child’s, scoliosis curve.

At South Florida Scoliosis Center we are continuously improving and developing our methods of treatment to provide our patients better alternatives for curves of all degrees.

Lighten the Load - Backpack Safety for Spinal Health

Lighten the Load- Backpack Safety for Spinal Health

Lighten the Load - Backpack Safety for Spinal HealthDid you know (as per the American Physical Therapy Association) your child’s backpack should never exceed 10-15% of his or her body weight?

Thanks to heavy homework loads and inconvenient or non-existent lockers, the average child carries 22-27% of their bodyweight in their backpack. This creates unnecessary strain on a child’s spine. A heavy back pack can pull a child backwards making him or her overcompensate by 1- bending forward or 2- arching their backs, in turn compressing the spine. In the case of the “over one shoulder sling” a child tends to lean far to the one side to offset the weight of the heavy backpack. Repeated use, overtime, leads to poor posture, muscle strain and pain in the back neck and shoulder areas. In addition, backpacks with tight narrow straps that dig into the skin can block circulation and nerve function, resulting in tingling, numbness and weakness in the arms and hands.

Signs My Child’s Back pack is too Heavy:

  • Change in posture?
  • Signs of struggle while putting on or taking off the backpack
  • Complaining of pain from wearing the back pack
  • Red marks on the shoulder area from wearing the backpack
  • Complaints of numbness or tingling in the arms and hands

Safety Precautions to Lighten the Load:

  • Purchase a back that’s lightweight yet durable- many backpacks, though fashionable, may be heavier construction
  • Make sure the backpack has two wide padded shoulder straps
  • Purchase a backpack with a waist strap- this helps the weight distribute more evenly
  • A padded back can make the load more comfortable while protecting from sharp objects poking out the back
  • Multiple compartments help the weight distribute more evenly
  • Rolling backpacks are ideal provided there is no need for climbing stairs or rolling across uneven terrain- i.e. grass or snow
  • When packing the backpack- pack heavier items towards the back and evenly distribute smaller items in compartments
  • Weigh your child’s backpack- make sure it doesn’t exceed 10-15% of his or her bodyweight
  • Adjust the straps to fit tight against the body

Now you’re ready to send your child safely off to school! 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.

Remember- A heavy backpack does not cause Scoliosis but may disguise a spinal curve in it’s initial stages. Scoliosis first shows up between the ages of 9-15 so make sure your child is screened on a regular basis.

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.