Did you know June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month? We thought this would be a perfect opportunity to fill you in on the topic and the campaign promoted by the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS).
Scoliosis is a condition in which a lateral curvature develops in the spine. It can be caused by neuromuscular or degenerative disorders or it can be idiopathic in nature meaning the cause is unknown. Idiopathic scoliosis is most often detected during the adolescent years and is found to be more common in females. The treatment for scoliosis varies depending on the degree of the curve but most commonly includes physical therapy, customized bracing, and/or orthopedic surgery in more severe cases.
Part of the SRS June campaign is to promote early detection and to publicize a study published by Dr. Stuart Weinstein in the New England Journal of medicine regarding the effects of bracing for idiopathic scoliosis. The study was a randomized clinical trial which tracked the outcomes of a bracing group and an observation group. In the bracing group, 72% of adolescents were able to avoid surgery compared to 48% in the observation group. More significantly, when the brace was worn for 13 hours or more per day, 90% of adolescents were successful in avoiding surgery, indicating that the amount of time worn each day is important.
Below you will find the link to the study referenced as well as to the SRS campaign page if you would like to read more about it or contribute in some way.