| The majority of adolescents diagnosed with scoliosis | | | | crush the internal organs. |
| have been presented with two very unattractive | | | | With recent information published by Dr's Dolan and |
| treatment options for their spinal deformity: bracing | | | | Weinstein regarding the ineffectiveness of rigid spinal |
| and surgery. After reviewing dozens of research | | | | bracing to have any real tangible ability to stop |
| articles regarding the mechanics of this disease there | | | | progression with about the same statistical success |
| seems to be a consensus among the experts | | | | rate of letting it take its natural course, researchers |
| regarding typical 3 dimensional patterns found within | | | | have obviously approached the disease from a |
| the scoliotic patient. One of the most consistent and | | | | theory of simply pushing against the scoliosis curves |
| often overlooked finding is the decrease in thoracic | | | | in the middle. I believe this has the same effect as |
| kyphosis. according to most literature this abnormal | | | | stopping a waterfall from the bottom up, ever tried |
| finding is found in nearly 90% of adolescents with a | | | | it? Surgery in most cases does stop progression at |
| primary thoracic curvature. Now there is currently no | | | | the expense of tremendous functional loss. |
| known cause for spinal curvatures and all of the | | | | Gracovetsky's book regarding the spinal engine |
| genetic research is inconclusive meaning so far there | | | | discusses in exhausting detail the biomechanics of |
| exists no specific gene that is passed down causing | | | | human movement. He explains how the spine creates |
| this disease., however there are genetic markers that | | | | torque through the counter swing of the pelvis and |
| are related to progression of the deformity but not | | | | shoulders the torque is manifested in the spinal |
| necessarily cause.There are many theories as to the | | | | column and is used to create an extremely efficient |
| cause and most biomechanical theories start with the | | | | system of locomotion. Surgically fusing the entire |
| loss of normal kyphosis in the thoracic spine as a | | | | thoracic spine with titanium will cause this spinal |
| major consistent contributing factor in creating | | | | engine to shut down and eventially cause enormous |
| scoliosis. | | | | health problems in the future. Imagine fusing your |
| When the spine loses or gains curves in the side view | | | | entire foot and walking on it for the rest of your life, |
| there are significant changes in the normal pressure | | | | ever walk in a ski boot? |
| on discs, spinal joint surfaces and even on the spinal | | | | My discussion is really not designed to bash bracing |
| cord itself as documented by Dr. Brieg. Since the | | | | and surgery, but rather to ask the question why isn't |
| spine will innately adjust its position to a lesser stress | | | | there a better way? why don't we look at the |
| environment these side view changes almost always | | | | deformity from its onset and establish a sound |
| result in compensatory changes in other dimensions. | | | | theory as to why the body is maladapting to gravity? |
| If the majority of adolescents with scoliosis have | | | | Well the good news is that the current research |
| major changes in the side view as a precursor to the | | | | already points to very sound theories as to why |
| compensatory shifting which eventially shows up on | | | | scoliosis begins and gets worse. |
| the full spine xray as a spinal curvature wouldn't it | | | | There are two main contributing factors that cause |
| make sense to investigate correcting any spinal | | | | scoliosis. Genetic predisposition and environmental |
| changes to the side view early on before the spine | | | | factors. The future of scoliosis care will involve |
| reorganizes and compensates as it learns and grows? | | | | knowledge of these two factors shortly after |
| It's amazing to me that the only real tangible | | | | detection of the scoliosis has been made. Then |
| measurement for scoliosis is the lateral flexion | | | | appropriately addressing the environmental factors |
| component in the middle of the column when viewing | | | | like the loss of sagital spine curves through brain |
| the spine from front to back. A fairly rudimentary | | | | body based rehabilitation will substantially eliminate |
| system for measuring this deviation known as Cobb's | | | | environmental influence of gravitational force on poor |
| angle is the only thing standing between a team of | | | | spine mechanics and postural disorganization. By |
| surgeons opening up a kids back and permanently | | | | proactively attacking poor biomechanics and posture |
| fusing this lateral deviation. The entire medical model | | | | in the early stages of the game the outcome (curve |
| for scoliosis treatment is hanging its hat on a single | | | | progression) will be altered potentially eliminating |
| component of a very complex disease. The logic | | | | invasive reaction based treatment like rigid bracing |
| behind this system is to stop progression of the | | | | and fusion surgery. |
| curvature in fear that it will spiral out of control and | | | | |