First, don’t panic. Scoliosis as a condition is not dangerous for your child, but you should have them evaluated by a doctor that treats Scoliosis as soon as possible. Most Pediatricians and Family Doctors will refer you to see an Orthopedic Surgeon that deals with Pediatric Scoliosis. You can certainly go, but understand, these are surgeons that are highly trained in surgery and not in the non-surgical treatment of scoliosis. If you are wanting to avoid surgery, you may want to see a doctor who is highly trained in Non-Surgical Scoliosis treatment first, like the doctors at ScoliCare East Phoenix.
Determining if your Child has Scoliosis
The first step in assessing your child is a physical exam to determine if it is truly Scoliosis, and if so, how severe. If the exam reveals signs that scoliosis is present, the next step is to make sure it’s an Idiopathic curve-not caused by any other underlying conditions.
This differential diagnosis is come upon by a thorough history, neurological exams, orthopedic exams, and finally X-rays. In these exams, we are screening for other causes of Scoliosis that may vary from defects in the shape of the vertebrae, problems with the spinal cord, or more severe issues like bone or soft tissue tumors. If we identify anything that requires a different provider, or if the curve is too severe and requires surgery, we will refer the child to the appropriate provider. If the curve is idiopathic in nature—which is the case in approximately 80% of instances—then we will begin non-surgical treatments as soon as possible.
The Size of the Curve and the Amount of Growth Determine the Treatment
If the curve is below 20-degrees with growth remaining. The typical recommendation given by surgeons is to “Watch and Wait” every 6 -12 months and see if the curve progresses. At ScoliCare East Phoenix, we would recommend checking every 4 months and begin a Scoliosis Specific Exercise Program (SSEP)- this lets the child begin to understand how the scoliosis is bending their spine and how they can move their body to try and resist the Scoliosis. It has been shown that SSEP exercises can be effective in treating small curves. We have had far too many patients come to us with curves in the upper 30’s and 40’s after a year of watching and waiting as recommended by the surgeon. Curves that reach the 30 degree mark become much harder to correct and treat.
Noticeable Hump on the Back at 25 degrees of curve
When a Curve reaches 25 degrees or above, with growth remaining, is the point most surgeons, but not all, would recommend beginning bracing, but rarely encourage pairing it with Scoliosis Specific Exercise and in my experience only recommend part-time wear or 16 hours or less.
At ScoliCare East Phoenix, we would recommend full-time bracing using the ScoliBrace®, for 20-23 hours per day. Research shows that longer wear times produce better outcomes in bracing ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40789981/ ). The best braces to achieve this are asymmetrical in shape, TLSO braces (not LSO Braces), designed using 3D scanners and CAD/CAM technology, like ScoliBrace.
In addition to bracing, we would recommend an individualized Scoliosis Specific Exercise Program (SSEP), as an essential part of treatment to augment brace wear in curves 25 degrees and above.
Non-Surgical Scoliosis Treatments at ScoliCare East Phoenix
ScoliBalance®
At ScoliCare East Phoenix, we provide excellent, evidence based non-surgical scoliosis treatment options for Children. We follow the SOSORT treatment guidelines in making clinical decisions.
We provide a Scoliosis Specific Exercise Program (SSEP) called ScoliBalance®. ScoliBalance® is a fusion of two other SSEP’s, namely Schroth and SEAS (Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis) and has some over-corrective principles from the Chiropractic BioPhysics® method (CBP®). ScoliBalance® takes the detailed corrections of Schroth and the exercise principles from SEAS and combines them together to make a very detailed, yet simple exercise program, that kids can do weekly in office and at home daily.
Recent research on ScoliBalance® reveals that core strength and endurance, back strength and endurance, and balance, all improve dramatically in patients undergoing the ScoliBalance® program for a minimum of 12 weeks.
ScoliBrace®
ScoliCare East Phoenix also provides the ScoliBrace®. ScoliBrace® is an Asymmetrical, Custom-Made, 3D, over-corrective, TLSO brace that utilizes CAD/CAM design and finite element modeling to produce a brace that treats the growing spine in 3 dimensions. The main goal of ScoliBrace® is to first stabilize, but ultimately, if spine flexibility is good, provide the greatest amount of correction possible in each
scoliosis patient.
Recent Research on ScoliBrace®, published in 2024, followed a group of teens treated with only the ScoliBrace®. In this group, 89% did not progress to surgery and 54% achieved an average correction of 6 degrees. The average wear time was 16 hours, due to the climate in Singapore. The results would have been better if the average wear time had been over 20 hours per day and if the group had been given
SSEP exercises. Results of this ScoliBrace® study are far better than landmark research results using Boston Braces from 2013.
ScoliCare East Phoenix is a One-Stop-Shop When it Comes to Non-Surgical Scoliosis Treatment for Children
Choosing the right providers to treat your child’s scoliosis is critical. At ScoliCare East Phoenix, our head clinician, Dr. Anthony Pivonka, DC, is an outstanding graduate of the World Master’s Course (2022) “Principles and Practice of Scoliosis Conservative Treatment” put on by the prestigious Italian Scientific Spine Institute in Milan, Italy.
This year long program instructs Medical Doctors, Physical Therapists, Orthotists and a select group of Chiropractors in the proper Conservative, Non-Operative management of all types of Scoliosis in kids and adults. ScoliCare East Phoenix also has highly trained clinicians and exercise physiologists for ScoliBalance®. These providers will teach each scoliosis patient how to unwind their scoliosis in 50-minute, one-on-one sessions and they will also instruct them on the use of the ScoliRoll®, which is a powerful, highly effective, home traction orthotic that they will use 20 minutes each day.
ScoliCare East Phoenix also has an in-office X-ray facility to ensure the best and most accurate scoliosis films possible. So, under one roof, ScoliCare East Phoenix has highly trained Non-Surgical Scoliosis treatment clinicians, highly trained Scoliosis Specific Exercise providers and X-rays. So, there is no need to make multiple trips to other doctors, therapists or X-ray labs. If your child has been told they have Scoliosis there is no better place in Arizona to take them. ScoliCare East Phoenix is the best place for non-surgical scoliosis evaluation and treatment.
Call 480-892-0022 to schedule an appointment today!
