June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month.  I’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to be alert for signs of scoliosis in their family members.  When we think of screening for scoliosis, typically, we look at school-age girls.  It’s true that scoliosis is the leading orthopedic problem seen in school-age children; when screening for it in schools, we find it in 2-4% percent of children 10 to 16.1,2  But from age 17-21, it’s present in nearly 12%.3  When we examine 20-23 year olds, 15% have scoliosis.4  Scoliosis is diagnosed in 19.9% of adults with low back pain, and in 68% of healthy adults over 60.5-7  Obviously, the prevalence of scoliosis increases with age.5  We should be on the look-out for scoliosis in everyone!
Mild scoliosis can negatively affect exercise & psychosocial function in young people.8-15  In adults, it is responsible for a significant amount of impairment, pain, & disability.7  Don’t discount the possibility that scoliosis could be what is causing your headaches, neck pain, back pain, or leg pain!
Fortunately, chiropractic has come a long way in learning how to help people with scoliosis.  It must be recognized that scoliosis is a complex condition, and diversified chiropractic adjustments, heel lifts, and postural screening may not be enough to effectively manage it.16  There are chiropractors who specialize in scoliosis, who have documented very promising results.17  If you encounter a case of severe or rapidly progressing scoliosis, before referring your patient out for bracing or surgery, search for a chiropractic scoliosis specialist in your area at www.clear-institute.org/ny

In our clinic, we have developed a great deal of respect and even admiration for the men and women of all ages who have come to us for treatment of their scoliosis.

We have listened to their stories, empathized with their pain, and shared in their joy as positive changes were made to their so-called “incurable” condition. We have also formed close relationships with men and women who, in their youth, had undergone the Harrington rod implantation surgery in an attempt to halt the progression of their scoliosis and, sadly, found the quality of their lives worsened, rather than improved by the procedure.

Q: Why should I seek treatment for my scoliosis from a chiropractor certified by CLEAR Institute? What do they know that my regular D.C. doesn’t?

A: Typical chiropractic adjustments have been proven to be ineffective or even harmful to the scoliotic patient, due to the mobilization of fixated vertebrae by the adjustment.

While this may cause pain relief in the short term, the long term result is increased progression of the Cobb angle. CLEAR practitioners are not focused on relieving pain, although this is certainly the end result. Chiropractors trained by CLEAR Institute are committed to achieving structural changes to the spine that will allow the body to de-rotate and correct itself, and use specific, reproducible precision x-rays that are analyzed according to exact guidelines to measure and quantify the change.
We focus on involving the patient in the treatment process. Rather than trying to “force” the spine into position with rods or braces, we work with the body to address the internal cause behind why the scoliosis developed. This involves active involvement on the part of the patient, as we re-train patterns of walking, re-balance the strength of muscles on each side of the body, and re-model posture. Advanced chiropractic adjustments achieve the correction, but your participation ensures its permanence.

Q: What are the effects of scoliosis?

A: Scoliosis is not always associated with pain, although it commonly may be.

Even in people without pain, however, the function of the heart & lungs is compromised. According to the National Scoliosis Foundation, scoliosis is associated with reduced life expectancy. On the average, people with scoliosis suffer a 14-year reduction in their life expectancy due to the strain upon the heart & the reduced amount of oxygen supplied to the body. Scoliosis is also associated with headaches, shortness of breath, digestive problems, chronic disease, and hip, knee, & leg pain.

Q: Will my scoliosis get worse as I age?

A: For a long time, doctors told patients that their scoliosis would not progress after the age of 18.

Unfortunately, research has proven otherwise. Whether scoliosis develops earlier in life (Type A) or in adulthood (Type B), it will most likely progress; the only question is how fast. Additional studies have shown that as the Cobb angle increases, the amount of chronic pain goes up, and the ranges of motion & the quality of life goes down.

Q: My scoliosis is termed “idiopathic,” meaning the cause is unknown. Is it true that I inherited this condition from my mother?

A: You may have heard that researchers at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children recently discovered a gene associated with scoliosis.

However, there are several flaws with the “gene theory” of disease. For instance, it has been universally recognized in recent years that attempting to attribute a genetic basis to any disease is an exercise in futility. While there may be such a thing as a genetic predisposition, the presence of a genetic marker for a specific disease is in no way a guarantee that the carrier will ever express that particular gene. An article featured in the July 2005 issue of Scientific American, entitled, "Identical Twins Exhibit Differences in Gene Expression," is an appropriate confirmation of this concept. Even amongst identical twins, gene expression differs over one-third of the time! For more information on this concept, research the science of epigenetics, or click here.

CLEAR Institute teaches that scoliosis is the body’s natural and innate response to the loss of mechanical function provided by the normal curves of the spine. When these curves disappear, the body re-inserts them in another dimension. If scoliosis has a “cause,” then it can only be described as the laws of physics!

I returned from a 4-day advanced seminar on scoliosis treatments, highlighting adult scoliosis treatment, specifically.

Recent developments in the field of treating adults with scoliosis have emerged. We now have the capability to offer adult scoliosis treatment as well treatment for scoliosis in teens.

Our approach is unique in that we are the only practice in New York City (and the Northeast region) to incorporate SpineCor research, Spinecor flexible brace, Clear Institute practices and Pettibon technique in the treatment of Scoliosis.

We have a powerful and complete scoliosis program. We have also devised scoliosis exercises that patients can perform at home. In essence, I equate wearing the spinecor brace to undergoing 20 hours of scoliosis physical therapy a day which, combined with Clear Institute's "mix", "fix", and "set" principle (i.e., Mix it up, fix it and then set it in place) create a scoliosis treatment protocol like no other. Clear Institute asserts that applying their protocol can achieve a 10 to 30 percent correction initially. These are great results as it affords people a non-invasive, non-surgical alternative for treating scoliosis. Stay tuned for more exciting research in the area of adult scoliosis treatment.

This past weekend I went to a Scoliosis (SpineCor) and a Chiropractic seminar in Las Vegas.

It was great to be there. Every time I go to a SpineCor seminar I always learn something new and helpful to the bracing technique. For example, there is a new and more effective manner to brace a thoracic type 3 curve.

At the Chiropractic Seminar I met with Dr. Dennis Woggon, the founder of clear institute a scoliosis reduction technique, and spoke to him one-on-one in more depth about his work with Scoliosis.

His work is inspiring. We continue to research his technique. At our patients’ request, we will begin to incorporate elements of his technique into our protocol starting this April. We have just received a cervical tracking unit and the ArthroStim device; both help restore the cervical curve. Restoring the cervical curve is very important. According to Dr. Woggon, "The cervical curve is the route to scoliosis". If the curve in the cervical spine is diminished it will increase the tension on the spinal cord by 10%, if the curve is reverse it will cause 17% tension. If there is tension on the cord it will cause the spine to bend somewhere else to alleviate the tension of the cord.

We are committed to approaching the treatment of Scoliosis with the best and latest Scoliosis Treatment Techniques.

We will continue to stay abreast of new research in the field to be able to provide you state of the art care for Scoliosis. Stay tuned. - Dr. Sid

This weekend I attended the Scoliosis Reduction seminar presented by Dr. Dennis Woggon, Founder of Clear Institute and a 1974 cum laude graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. The seminar was very informative. Dr. Woggon, detailed various techniques that he uses in the reduction of scoliosis that have generated great results, namely--vibration therapy for proprioceptive neuromuscular reeducation, Spinal Traction, Exercises, Spinal Weighting, Muscle Stimulation, Rehabilitation, Core Stimulation, and the use of the ArthroStim.

We presently utilize the SpineCor brace http://www.scoliosisspecialists.com/ for the reduction of scoliosis. SpineCor brace in conjunction with the treatment developed by Dr. Woggon would appear to be a powerful combination for the reduction of scoliosis. We are excited to continue to research this offering and look forward to sharing our observations with you. As always, feedback, questions, comments, or concerns are welcomed!

Yours in health,

Dr. Sid