History of the Scoliosis Traction Chair The Scoliosis Traction Chair (STC) was developed by the CLEAR Institute to be the ultimate tool to address and rehabilitate the scoliotic spine. The very first scoliosis chairs were modified school chairs customized by hand for each patient. The armrests were built up with foam blocks affixed with duct … Read more
People have different ways of coping or embracing their scoliosis. While some may focus on wearing clothing to disguise scoliosis, others choose to put theirs on display. There appears to be a trend of individuals with scoliosis getting tattooed to celebrate their unique physique or commemorate a challenging experience they suffered as a result of it. … Read more
Types of Muscle This is a technical article revealing a behind the scenes perspective on why specific types of exercise therapy is so effective in treating scoliosis. Skeletal muscle is a form of striated muscle tissue (a form of fibers that are combined into parallel fibers) controlled by the somatic nervous system (associated with the … Read more
tHe BiZaRrE wOrLd oF sCoLiOsIs Animals with Scoliosis Just like people, animal can exhibit scoliosis—even house pets. The images below show regular house cats that just happen to have scoliosis. In fact, the image on the right is from a pet rescue website and they note that Scoli (aptly named) is inhibited in no way. Much like … Read more
When people think of scoliosis they think of children and teens with crooked backs when in reality many adults suffer from scoliosis. The popular medical approach to scoliosis treatment is to “wait and see”–to monitor the curve to see if its at risk for progression. By these standards the curves that are treated are those … Read more
We all know that improper posture, both standing and seated, is bad for the joints and especially bad for the back, but could it be worse for scoliosis patients? Research suggests that poor posture can exacerbate scoliosis. Specifically, increased time spent in a seated position–an incorrect seated position–can lead to asymmetry of the spine and … Read more
Jogging and running are fine for most people with scoliosis. The National Institute of Arthritis states: “Although exercise programs have not been shown to affect the natural history of scoliosis, exercise is encouraged in patients with scoliosis to minimize any potential decrease in functional ability over time. It is very important for all people, including … Read more
Scoliosis exercise can be a very effective part of a more comprehensive treatment plan for scoliosis. It’s the type of scoliosis exercise that is key! Exercise for scoliosis can be divided into two groups. Isometric and Isotonic. Isometric scoliosis exercise is a way to exercise the muscles while in a stationary position. Isometric exercise is … Read more
A concern with degenerative or adult-onset scoliosis is how it is affected by osteoporosis. Osteoporosis and scoliosis are related because they are both conditions which affect the spine. Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the density or mass of bone structures. Millions are diagnosed with the condition, which decreases the strength of bone and may … Read more
In the average person’s mind, scoliosis is associated with children and adolescents and the prevalence of scoliosis amongst adolescents is 4%. Surprisingly, in adults in general, scoliosis is over 20%. It increases to 40% in adults over age 60 and to 68% in adults over age 70. Two thirds of the elderly population has scoliosis … Read more
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) (sometimes referred to as “teenage scoliosis”) is defined as a lateral curvature of the spine greater than 10 degrees accompanied by vertebral rotation and is present in 2 to 4 percent of children between 10 and 16 years of age. It may start at puberty or during a growth spurt in … Read more
Linda Blair – Actress Linda Blair, is most known for her childhood role in the film The Exorcist. In some notorious scenes, Blair violently trashes around on a levitating bed. Blair says she’s never been the same since she starred in the film. Due to a mechanical failure while filming the scene, she sustained a slight … Read more