Scoliosis is relatively uncommon amongst young children. In most cases of scoliosis, the patient’s spinal curve doesn’t develop until adolescence, and so the majority of the people we treat here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic are at least old enough to be in secondary school.

However, that’s not to say we haven’t welcomed our share of younger patients to the Clinic – in fact, we’ve treated scoliosis in children as young as 4!

One of the most difficult things about treating scoliosis in young children is judging whether or not any treatment is even required. If the child is still growing, there is a chance that their spinal curve will straighten itself out over time; however, it’s also possible that the curve will progress (grow more severe), and this in turn can affect the development of other parts of the patient’s body, including vital internal organs.

For this reason, observation is absolutely crucial when treating a young scoliosis sufferer. It’s very important to know whether the curve is progressing, improving, or simply staying the same, as this will determine the most appropriate course of action. Best practice is to take regular X-rays and monitor the patient’s condition for a time before deciding what treatment – if any – is required.

The treatment courses we deliver are somewhat different for younger patients, but the key principles remain the same: instead of correcting the spine’s curve using surgical methods or a scoliosis brace, we achieve huge improvements via an exercise-based treatment programme. Our chartered physiotherapists use a range of therapeutic techniques (including those listed here) to:

• Reduce the patient’s Cobb angle
• Improve posture and muscle strength
• Increase mobility
• Relieve pain
• Enhance the patient’s quality of life

Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, we treat scoliosis using something called the ScolioGold method. This is our own unique approach to scoliosis therapy, and it combines a number of different techniques from all over the world to get the best possible results for scoliosis sufferers.

One of the many therapeutic techniques we utilise is called Kinesio Taping. Developed in Japan in the 1970s, Kinesio Taping promotes healthy muscle movement patterns and helps to relieve pain and inflammation in those who suffer from musculoskeletal disorders. Read on to find out more about this technique, or click here to get in touch with the Scoliosis SOS Clinic and find out how we may able to help you.

The Kinesio Taping (KT) method is the brainchild of Dr Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor who developed KT as a means of relieving pain without surgery or drugs. Kinesio Taping has existed as a practice since the 1970s, but it has received greater recognition more recently, with sports stars such as Serena Williams and Gareth Bale wearing it during their matches.

As mentioned above, the KT method is one of many techniques that we incorporate into our ScolioGold treatment courses for scoliosis sufferers. We’ve found that Taping is a great way to help with the pain that many scoliosis sufferers experience. Kinesio Taping’s strength lies with supplying immediate, short-term pain relief, but we’ve learned that it can be combined with other therapeutic methods – such as myofascial release – to give much longer-lasting results.

Kinestio Taping is also a good way to cultivate proper muscle movement patterns in scoliosis patterns. This is important because it helps to prevent the spine’s curve from progressing yet further. While the KT method itself is not capable of correcting a scoliotic curve, it is useful for managing pain/discomfort and promoting healthy movement and posture in conjunction with the other methods listed here.

It was for this reason that Dea and her sister decided to research treatment options themselves, which is what led them to the Scoliosis SOS Clinic. At her initial consultation, Dea realised that she wouldn’t necessarily have to just ‘live with’ her scoliosis – her pain and her hunched posture could be treated after all.

Despite this, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that scoliosis sufferers with a 55 degree curve or more can be successfully treated via non-surgical methods, which help to relieve pain, reduce the visibility of the scoliotic curve, and prevent the condition from progressing further. Here at Scoliosis SOS, we have treated countless patients whose angles exceed the proposed threshold for surgery, with consistently impressive results.

While we have treated curves ranging from 12 to 120 degrees, the majority of our patients fall within the range of 20-65 degrees, with many having explored the possibility of surgery already. One of our previous patients, Veronica Gabinet, had a curve of 55 degrees, and had attempted treatment with a Boston brace to no avail. She came across the Scoliosis SOS Clinic while researching non-surgical treatments online; in the end, she decided against undergoing an operation to treat her spinal curve, and decided to enrol on one of our treatment courses instead.

For Veronica, as for many young people who suffer from scoliosis, the risks associated with surgery were a daunting prospect. Veronica took part in activities such as dance, tennis, and other physically-demanding hobbies, and in cases such as these, a spinal operation can be an extremely restrictive and drastic solution, presenting an entirely new set of problems even as it helps with the scoliosis itself.

In an interview we conducted with Veronica after her treatment with us, she said that she would definitely recommend trying non-surgical therapies before surgery. Despite having a curve of 55 degrees, she was able to see a marked improvement in her symptoms, particularly with regards to her posture. You can hear her full story, and find out more about her experience at Scoliosis SOS here:

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.