scoliosis

Adults

Whether you’ve had scoliosis or hyper kyphosis most of your life, or have been diagnosed more recently, your spine deserves special care! Scoliosis can show up differently depending on the severity of the curve and your overall health.

Working with me will give you insight into your unique curve(s) and how to best take care of your spine and things you can do to help maintain your height, strength and posture as you age.

Does this sound like you?

I’m afraid to exercise because I don’t want to hurt myself.
I don’t want my posture to get worse!
I’m starting to experience pain and don’t want to make it worse.
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do or what not to do.
I want to avoid surgery.
I’ve had surgery and want to learn how to stay strong.

I’ll teach you tools and strategies to protect your spine and improve your posture. There are ways you can slow progression, stay strong and feel more confident you are doing all you can to limit progression.

Children and adolescents

Most kids find out they have scoliosis from an MD or you, their parent. Depending on your child, their age, sex, and the severity of their curve, how they respond could go a number of ways. Some kids are unfazed, but for others a diagnosis of scoliosis may feel devastating! These kids will need a team of support.

Early management is key. Many doctors, even those who work with spinal dysfunction, don’t specialize in scoliosis and are not aware of best practices for conservative management. Research is evolving.

Giving your child the tools to manage their condition could be the best decision you make. I will work with their team to facilitate the best possible outcomes.

What to expect during your visit:

An initial evaluation is quite thorough and includes the following:

An assessment of a full spine x-ray to measure Cobb Angle, and a series of other measurements in all planes to help classify a curve pattern and risk of progression.
Musculoskeletal testing
Spirometry as appropriate if any issue with breathing or diaphragmatic excursion
Scoliometer measurements or ATR
Postural digital photographs to document progress and review findings with family members
Lots of time for Q and A

Follow up visits work to teach your kid how to exercise and have fun doing it, while also addressing their scoliosis.

If you have any questions, just reach out to me. I’m here to help.

Coming soon... Before and after photos (I have photos on file if you want to see results during our consultation)

the schroth method and the SEAS method

I am certified through the Schroth-Barcelona Institute and Isico (the SEAS method) to manage and treat spinal deformities (scoliosis and kyphosis). Yes, I treat kyphosis too!

The Schroth Method is a three-dimensional non-surgical treatment using scoliosis-specific exercises based on your curve pattern. This method also addresses sagittal plane disorders such as kyphosis. The Schroth Method includes manual and auto correction of spinal curves through elongation of the spine and expansion of the trunk from the inside out. The emphasis in treatment is to teach you how to expand your concavities (“weak side” or “weak point”) and reduce your prominences through breath, body awareness and stabilization strategies. The goal is for you to learn how to integrate your optimal corrected posture into your daily life.

The SEAS method stands for “Scientific Exercises Approach to Scoliosis”. The principles of SEAS are based on a specific form of auto-correction (termed active self-correction) that is customized for each person. Once a client learns their unique way of self correcting, we incorporate stabilizing exercises, neuromotor control and proprioceptive training balance. The exercises are also incorporated into daily living activities. The SEAS approach is also characterized by a cognitive-behavioural approach towards the patient and his family to maximize compliance to treatment.

While adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and adult-onset scoliosis are entirely different, both approaches can help to manage both conditions. The Schroth Method uses props and scoliosis specific exercises to activate and engage muscles that may have become inefficient through deformity. The SEAS method is less about props and more about holding a correction with movement. Both have their advantages. Both approaches can be quite effective in managing pain, reducing dysfunction, and preventing surgery in many cases.