But the truth is that scoliosis doesn’t always develop within that 5-year window. The condition often makes itself known during adolescence because this is when you go through growth spurts, periods of rapid growth during which the spine becomes more prone to curvature. However, some children do develop scoliosis years prior to hitting puberty (this is known as ‘juvenile scoliosis’ – see Treating Scoliosis in Young Children), and many older people who previously had perfectly healthy spines develop scoliosis later in life due to factors such as osteoporosis and the natural ageing and weakening of the human body over time.

So the answer to the question, ‘Can you get scoliosis at any age?’ is ‘Yes – it’s most likely to develop during adolescence, but there is ample evidence that the condition can develop earlier or later in life.’

This brings us to question #2…

Scoliosis can be treated in a number of different ways. Spinal fusion surgery is often utilised as a means of correcting the spinal curve, but this is a risky, invasive procedure that many patients would rather avoid. Surgery may be a particularly undesirable course of action if the patient is very young or very old.

Thankfully, there are alternatives. Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, we treat scoliosis sufferers using a combination of non-surgical techniques that we collectively refer to as the ScolioGold method – this is an exercise-based regime that helps patients to overcome the symptoms of their spinal curvature and improves their quality of life immeasurably.

Contact us now to arrange an initial consultation at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, or click one of the links below to see the results we’ve helped patients of different ages to achieve.

• 4 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 39 years
• 40 to 59 years
• 60+ years

Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, we provide highly effective treatment for scoliosis sufferers who don’t wish to undergo surgery for their condition. Our treatment courses use the ScolioGold method to get great results for the patient without any surgical intervention – visit our Testimonials page to see some of the (unsolicited!) feedback we’ve received from our patients over the years.

We cannot accept any patient onto a ScolioGold course until they have attended an initial consultation with a member of the Scoliosis SOS team and undergone a scoliosis screening. These screenings are usually conducted here at the Clinic (view address), although we can arrange to do them via telephone or Skype if you live further afield.

If you choose to undergo a scoliosis screening via Skype or over the phone, you will need to send us photographs of your back and/or your latest X-rays in advance so that we can provide an accurate assessment of your condition. These images can be sent via post or email.

What a scoliosis screening looks for

A couple of months ago, we shared the news that researchers at Hiroshima University in Japan had identified the gene responsible for causing idiopathic scoliosis to develop in certain people. Their findings were based on experiments conducted on zebrafish (a popular choice for genetic research, since they are genetically similar to humans and mutations can be introduced and observed with ease); now, further zebrafish research has yielded another huge clue as to the origins of idiopathic scoliosis in human beings. 

This time around, the findings came not from Japan but from North America. On the 10th of June 2016, Science published a report compiled by researchers from Princeton University (USA) and the University of Toronto (Canda) – here are the two key implications of their findings:

• Idiopathic scoliosis may be linked to the flow of fluid through the spinal column. The researchers bred zebrafish with a genetic mutation that affected cilia development in the ependymal cells lining their spinal canals. Cilia are tiny bristle-like protuberances that help to move fluid through the spine, but the mutated zebrafish developed damaged cilia, which disrupted the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The fish with damaged cilia eventually developed idiopathic scoliosis, suggesting a strong link between CSF flow and spinal curvature.
• The progression of scoliosis can be blocked. The researchers found that, by restoring cilia motility in the mutated zebrafish, they were able to prevent scoliosis from progressing. This was even true when the cilia were restored after the onset of scoliosis, suggesting that science may one day be able to provide a non-invasive, non-surgical means of stopping a curved spine from getting any worse.

The Scoliosis SOS Clinic has now been open for over 10 years, and in that time we’ve treated a number of people who suffer from Klippel-Feil syndrome. Today, we’d like to look at this rare disorder in detail – read on to find out what Klippel-Feil syndrome is and how our physiotherapists can help those who have it.

Kilppel-Feil syndrome (KFS) is a rare congenital disorder that is thought to affect roughly 0.0025% of newborn babies. The human neck has 7 cervical vertebrae, but people who suffer from KFS are born with two or more of those cervical vertebrae fused together. This results in limited neck/head movement and – in most cases – a visible shortening of the neck.

 

People with Klippel-Feil syndrome also commonly suffer from a variety of associated issues, such as heart defects, respiratory problems, and scoliosis.

As previously mentioned, we at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic have treated numerous Klippel Feil syndrome sufferers over the years, including Jack Gaffney, an 18-year-old from the Republic of Ireland. Three of Jack’s cervical vertebrae were fused together, and he had also suffered from curvature of the spine since birth. Jack was told that he would need a spinal fusion operation, but he and his family were acutely conscious of the risks associated with surgery, and so they were desperate to find an alternative treatment option.

An internet search led the Gaffneys to our website, and they decided that – given what was at stake – it was worth travelling to England and spending 4 weeks in London while Jack attended a ScolioGold treatment course to help improve his poor posture and mobility.

 

The results were astounding. Jack’s condition improved to the point that it could no longer be classified as scoliosis, and our treatments helped his mobility to the point that he was able to start skateboarding again. It’s wonderful to know that Klippel Feil syndrome treatment helped give jack some of his independence back again.

Here’s what Jack had to say at the end of his time with us:

 

“My life was such a whirlwind…every consultant I saw told me something different and I was terrified of surgery. I had no confidence and my self-esteem was badly affected. Now I can say, with all honesty, that I feel 100% better. My spine is improving every day.”

 

Our exercise-based treatment courses can drastically reduce spinal curvature and boost Klippel Feil syndrome sufferers’ mobility, self-confidence, and overall quality of life. If you’d like to find out more, contact us now to arrange a consultation for yourself or a loved one. Don’t leave your Klippel Feil syndrome un-treated.