Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Treatment in Texas
Scoliosis is ananomalous spinal curve. And it’s not a “disease”.
Human spines are slightly curved – but not horizontally. A horizontal curve causes pain and impaired physical function. The most common form of scoliosis (adolescent idiopathic scoliosis) is seen in patients aged 10 – 18. To date, there’s no known cause for AIS.
The good news is that for the 2 – 3% of young people living with AIS, there’s hope. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treatment in Texas at Scoliosis & Spine Associates has helped many patients.
Surgery a Last Resort
Non-surgical scoliosis therapies are always preferred for our juvenile patients. These include a range of therapeutic responses, including the observation of curve progression, bracing and movement therapy (Scroth, Pilates, Yoga).
Combining non-surgical treatments is a key strategy, offering a transformative way forward. For example, combining exercise therapy with observation and bracing strengthens the patient, while taming the curve. The empowerment this approach offers our young patients can’t be underestimated.
Watching the Curve
Observation may sound unduly passive as a therapy, but it provides clinicians with crucial information to pursue treatment, moving forward.
Bracing is indicated when the curve is observed to be progressing, as well as movement therapy.
Corrective Bracing
When the curve is observed to have increased to between 30 and 45-degrees, bracing is used to start mitigating it.
Bracing is a proven treatment, known to stop or slow curvature progression. The BRAIST (Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Trial, 2013) Study showed that for bracing to work, patients needed to wear their braces for at least 16 hours a day (up to 20 hours).
With the evolution in bracing technology (like the revolutionary UnyqAlign brace), patients have no problem wearing braces for the duration prescribed.
The properties of the UnyqAlign brace have made bracing less constricting and unattractive (important to young patients). This style of brace is responsible for better outcomes in juvenile patients.
Customized Exercise
Therapeutic, doctor-directed exercise is a growing influence in juvenile adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treatment in Texas, recently.
While the clinical community awaits research to definitively prove the effectiveness of these therapies, at Scoliosis & Spine we’ve seen amazing results for our young patients when adding them to care plans.
With exercise therapy, patients enjoy greater success in terms of improved posture and reduced fatigue and discomfort in the muscles. Ease of breathing is enhanced when movement is prescribed.
The Scroth Method has widely acknowledged to be one of the most consistently successful exercise therapy models.
Developed in Germany in the 1920s, Scroth is deployed to strengthen muscles supporting the spine and in the mid-section. When part of a program customized to the patient to lengthen and strengthen key muscles, Scroth mitigates the curvature and relieves pain.
Clinical Change
Clinical change is having an enormously positive influence on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treatment in Texas. That means more effective therapies for young patients.
At Scoliosis & Spine, we’re leaders in improving treatment for juvenile scoliosis. Our clinical director, Dr. Baron Lonner, is in the vanguard of research and development, which is driving clinical change.