Scoliosis News

New Surgery Techniques
Here is a really well-written report (Scoliosis surgery techniques improving) from the Fort Worth Star Telegram on the latest treatments for scoliosis and advances in surgery techniques.

posted by Joel @ 4:00 PM 1 comments

New Non-Surgical Treatment
Here is a press-release (PRNewswire - Scoliosis Systems(TM) Treatment of Scoliosis Offers New Hope) about a new non-surgical scoliosis treatment. It appears to be come kind of new brace system that exploits how the brain controls posture in order to control scoliosis, though the exact method of how the brace does that is not clear. According to the press-release:

Fitted elastic bands replace the hard shell brace used for so many years. The sequence, direction and tension in each band are carefully selected to allow the use of natural muscle activity to reduce the scoliotic deformity immediately. Unlike a supportive device which may de-weight the spine and reduce the contribution from surrounding muscle tissue, Spinecor(TM) uses movement and increased muscle activity to change the spine. This is why this new technique is thought to have changed non-surgical outcomes forever.

posted by Joel @ 11:44 AM 0 comments

New Book on Scoliosis









The publisher of a new book on scoliosis was kind enough to send me a copy to recommend to you. The book is a fictional account of a young woman's life and the lessons she learns while dealing with scoliosis. The book is Sex, Scars & A Superheroine with Scoliosis, by Kremena, and is available in e-book format from the Smink Works Books website. From the press release:

A new novel from Smink Works Books tells the story of one young woman's life and her experiences dealing with severe Scoliosis. Diagnosed while living in under-resourced Eastern Europe, she is encased in a plastic bucket, migrates to Australia and eventually has a titanium rod inserted in her back.This quirky, revealing semi-autobiographical novel is peppered with author-invented quotes about life - dealing with Scoliosis has meant she's learnt some valuable lessons and become a stronger person - but she's not about to admit that out loud. After all, it might sound schmaltzy.

posted by Joel @ 9:56 AM 1 comments

Happy New Year!
Hi all, welcome to a new year of blogging. I just wanted to make a quick post as I gear up for the new year and let you know that this blog has not been abandonded, I've just not had a lot of time lately. The next post will be about a new book about scoliosis. The author contacted me and was kind enough to send me the book, so I'll be blogging that as well as any new medical treatments and therapies in the new year.

posted by Joel @ 2:47 PM 1 comments

Munster Times - Scoliosis is the bending and twisting of the spine
This is an example of the "Ask A Doctor" section than many print and online newspapers feature. In this case, the question is: What causes scoliosis? The doctor answers with a brief overview of the condition as well as treatment options.

posted by Joel @ 1:45 PM 2 comments

Backpacks
Just in time for back-to-school, here is a report (Children's Backpacks May Be Too Heavy) on backpack safety from NBC5.1.com:

Parents may not realize how heavy backpacks can get, and that day after day of lugging them around can be wearing. "There's not anything that says this does cause scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, or any permanent damage, but we do know that it contributes [to] day to day back aches and pains," said Dr. Casey Drake, a pediatrician at Children's Medical Center. Drake said a backpack should never weigh more than 20 percent of a child's weight, and that it should be packed so that the heaviest items are toward the small of the back where it can get the most support.

Remember to use the kind that have two straps (to distribute the weight evenly) and not those that have only one strap. For some reason, the single-strap backpacks are trendy, but they are the worst in terms of back strain as they pull one shoulder down more than the other.

posted by Joel @ 11:53 AM 8 comments

Overview
This report from WHOI News (Healthbeat: Adult Scoliosis) offers a good overview of the different kinds of scoliosis and treatment options that are available.

posted by Joel @ 11:56 AM 0 comments