07/06/2019
Treating the WHOLE Scoliosis Condition, NOT Just the Curve
How new discoveries and innovations are closing the gap between what we know about idiopathic scoliosis and how we update our approaches for treating it.
Idiopathic scoliosis has remained one of the great mysteries over the past 3,500 years of recorded medical history dating back to Hippocrates himself, who wrote of a “serpent like disease of the spine”. Throughout the centuries attempts to treat the condition solely focused on brute force measures to force the spine back into a straighter position, but a small group of doctors are peeling back the layers of mystery to reveal a completely new approach for treating idiopathic scoliosis.
Viewing Scoliosis as a whole body condition: Paul Harrington, known for inventing the surgery that implants metal rods in scoliotic spines, stated in 1963, "metal does not cure the disease of scoliosis, which is a condition involving much more than the spinal column”. As it turns out, Dr. Harrington was correct. Advances in genetic, neurotransmitter, hormonal, and metabolic testing has revealed a tremendous amount of insight into the underlying nature of idiopathic scoliosis. In addition, the growing body of knowledge in the fields of spinal biomechanics, auto response type rehabilitation, and greater understanding of human neurological control regarding spinal alignment have provided opportunities for treatment innovations.
Dynamic Auto Response Training: Unlike a scoliosis back brace, the ScoliSMART Activity Suit™ provides subconscious feedback regarding the patient’s spinal position and alignment, stimulating the brain to continually and automatically recruit spinal muscles to “learn” how to hold the spine in a less twisted and straighter positon.
Scoli Specific Core Stabilization: Humans lack voluntary control over their spinal alignment, this is why general core strengthening or scoliosis exercises requiring voluntary controlled movements have little to no effect on the scoliosis condition. Our ScoliSMART doctors have developed an innovative approach using a cantilever mechanism to engage the automatic postural control centers in the patient’s hind brain to react and respond to the scoliosis spine curvature. This process, when used consistently and repeatedly over a period of months, will establish new and permanent neurological pathways (Postural memory) resulting in a long term reduction of the spinal rotation and scoliosis curvature.
Scoliosis Focused Clinical Lab Testing: Genetic, neurotransmitter, hormonal, and metabolic testing for scoliosis may hold the most promise for the future of treating the scoliosis condition. Genetic pre-disposition screening and proactive early stage scoliosis intervention therapies could prevent scoliosis curvatures from even developing in the future. Currently, ScoliSMART Labs™ is conducting and publishing studies in the areas of genetics, scoliosis pain management, bone density/health, neurotransmitter re-balancing, and even metal sensitivity testing for post-operative patients with surgical hardware implants.
Benefits of an updated approach for treating scoliosis for patients and parents: Providing patients with a more comprehensive treatment approach has significant benefits, as full time scoliosis braces are generally unnecessary and patients completing the ScoliSMART program were able to prevent scoliosis fusion surgery well over 90% of the time. In fact, patients using the ScoliSMART approach have real hope for curve improvement, not just stopping further scoliosis curve progression. Adolescent patients are able to fully participate in all of their favorite sports, activities, and social events. The ScoliSMART approach maintains the patient’s quality of life throughout their teenage years and allows a kid to still be a kid, not become the scoliosis condition. Parents often report feeling less stress/anxiety knowing they are providing their children with the most current, comprehensive, and least invasive treatment opportunity for treating idiopathic scoliosis.
