Treatment & Exercises for Scoliosis Relief

Treating Scoliosis – A Success Story

Background

Treating Scoliosis

Reilly¹ first came into the clinic in 2005 when she was nine years old. She was in a go-cart accident and hit hard from behind. She was being treated for headaches, whiplash and left torticollis – this is a condition sometimes referred to as “twisted neck” where the head is tilted to one side and the chin is tilted to the other side – when her scoliosis was discovered. She was diagnosed with severe right thoracic left lumbar scoliosis – the classic “S” curve. Her upper back curve (thoracic) had a Cobb angle² of 35°.

Her initial complaints included minor pain on both sides of her neck, the left side of her upper back and occasional low back pain.

Previous Medical History

Reilly was born legally blind in her left eye. As a very young child her right eye was patched, which helped correct her vision. She now wears glasses and has minimal peripheral vision in her right eye. She also believes that she had torticollis shortly after birth.

Findings – Initial Assessment

Tension in the left neck muscles as a result of nerve irritation
This tension existed the length of her spine as well as in her pelvis and legs
A posture assessment revealed rotation and tilt in the pelvis and head.
Different size eye sockets. Her left eye socket was a great deal smaller than her right eye socket as a result of altered tensions in the cranial bones.
The base of her left skull also had tension around the nerve supplying the muscles of the left neck

Treatment

Imagine a tight string (tissue) attached at your head and pelvis. This tissue is called Dura Mater – (the hard connective tissue you can feel on the crown of a baby’s head). The dura mater connects the cranium (head) to the sacrum (pelvis) and tension in this structure will affect the direction and degree of bony spinal column growth and can lead to scoliosis of the spine as a child grows.

Using osteopathic techniques, such as cranio-sacral therapy to treat dural tension is thought to minimize the progression of scoliosis and perhaps even reduce the curve. As movement specialists, your therapists at Physioactive will remove joint, muscle, nerve and/or fascial restrictions that are impeding growth or influencing a curvature and rotation of the spine.

Cranial therapy is a pain free, hands-on therapy that gently and painlessly improves the motion of the cranial bones. The upper few vertebrae of the spine are also very important in maintenance of a straight spine and allowing the dura and skull (cranium) to move freely. Other hands-on treatments are used to influence the movement of your spinal joints and then teach the muscles and fascia to move and elongate in response to this pain free hands-on treatment.

Home exercises were given to Reilly to maximize the benefits of her therapy.

Reilly and her family decided to try the SpinCore soft brace to stop the progression of the scoliosis curves. The soft brace is designed to allow for movement, flexibility and strengthening. It also allowed Reilly to be treated at Physioactive while she was wearing her brace. Reilly wore the brace for five years.

The developers of the SpinCore brace defined success as no progression of the scoliosis curves while wearing the brace – the brace was meant to stabilize the spine.

Reilly, her family and her physiotherapist at Physioactive were excited each time she had X-rays to measure her curve. We were continually pleased by the reduction of her scoliosis curves. The Spincore team were also pleasantly surprised by her curve reduction and encouraged her to “continue to do what she is doing”

Scoliosis can create large imbalances in the function of the entire musculoskeletal and fascial systems. This impacts breathing, circulation, digestion and organ function as well as ones overall well-being. With the addition of a personalized exercise program of yoga postures and breathing techniques designed by our scoliosis yoga therapist, Reilly was able to reduce the pain that she had from the muscular imbalances created by her scoliosis. She is now off to university and has the confidence to self-manage her scoliosis.

Through a personally designed breathing, stretching, and strengthening program we were able to maximize function, reduce scoliosis progression, and minimize the impacts of scoliosis. The customized home program also meant that Reilly was empowered to take control of her well-being and reduced the number of visits to the clinic.

¹ The patient’s name has been changed for privacy reasons.
2 Scoliosis is defined as a Cobb angle greater than 10°

Scoliosis treatment results in x-ray

Improvement in her curve in just one year – from age 15 on the left to age 16 on the right (her original X-rays from Sunnybrook were not available).

Zach Apter

2024-06-05

I saw Pooria. He was great all 4 sessions and so were the rest of the staff. Got me back to normal in no time! Highly reccomend.

Leonora Buskin

2024-05-05

I highly recommend Chiropractor Zachary Starr. Highly professional and his treatment resolved my TMJ for the long-term. He also supported with supplying exercises to carry on the treatment at home in relation to treatment of TMJ and improvement of posture.

Bayla Perelman

2024-05-02

After many months of being in pain and countless of doctor’s appointments and tests, no one was able to understand my pain or help me. However, during my first appointment with Thomas he was able to locate and finally ease my pain! Thank you!

Li You

2024-04-22

After finishing treatment from Monica. I have felt that any symptoms of sourness and stiffness in me just disappeared by themselves. During the miracle treatment, I feel her kindness and passion for medical treatment methods. Beyond, those, her combined knowledge of acupuncture and massage is the fact that she is so focused on the results of the treatment that after one or two sessions, I have already gotten the best outcome that I have ever experienced. I would say that she has an angel's fingers. It is an incredible wonder. It is an ancient way that she understands and practices so well to heal your health from the physical body to the eternal soul. I highly recommend this rehabilitation center and Monica to someone who is looking for the best medical treatment from the most caring practitioner.

Inna Kakoian

2024-04-08

Highly recommend PhysioActive. Winnie (physiotherapist) helped me a lot following my knee injury (injured ACL & MCL). She is very knowledgeable and one of the areas she specializes in is nerve work all over the body. Words can’t describe how amazing Winnie is at what she does. Originally she did ultrasound massage to reduce inflamation and swelling in my knee. Then she started doing some work with her hands. At the end of each appointment she would put my legs into a magnetic wheel that works at a cellular level and actually helped reduce pain. She also assigned exercises to do at home which helped too. Later I also started seeing Mina (osteopath), and he’s also very talented, knowledgeable and gentle. My foot, even though it wasn’t injured, was having trouble adjusting after many months of inactivity and was achy, so I ordered orthotics to put inside my shoes, which made a huge difference, and this was done through their chiropodist Vincent (the pair of orthotics he ordered for me is perfect). The front desk staff is great too, especially Negin and Armine. If you’re newly injured and lost, please hang in there as it will get better, and this is one great clinic that can help.

Melanie Heilbronn

2024-03-20

Nicholas Biasini is the man with magic hands. Thanks so much for your exercises and hands on work. Really appreciate the speedy and effective resolution of my neck pain.

Melissa Custoreri

2024-03-14

I have been a client at Physioactive since 2010 and continue to have a wonderful experience. My bookings are always easy and efficient via telephone and in person, through Physioactive’s organized, knowledgeable and friendly staff members. Appointment booking emails and reminders are always provided, as well as follow-up check ins between longer visits. The clinic is clean and organized. Physiotherapists, Nick and Aparna, and Massage Therapist, Shirley, have been critical in my physical healing from injuries and and preparation and recovery postpartum. I constantly leave the clinic AMAZED by their knowledge, ultimate care, and physical relief. I would HIGHLY recommend Physioactive to all!

Sheena Weisman

2024-03-14

Amazing clinic, would highly recommend! After a very sudden onset of severe sciatica, Thomas and the physioactive team were increadible. No appointments were available for 5 days, but once Thomas realized the degree of discomfort I was in he made extra appointment time to see me that same day and the next few days. His assessment was thorough and treatment very quickly reduced my nerve pain. He explained in detail the physiology likely causing the problem, and his plan to tackle not only the acute pain but over time to eventually resolve the underlying musculoskeletal problems that were likely causing it. I am increadibly grateful to him and his team and would definitely recommend Physioactive.

Amanda Chan

2024-03-13

Since my left fibula fracture was cleared for physio, while I was in crutches I have been going to Physioactive since last November. I cannot say anymore good things about this place, each physiotherapist I had seen in the beginning were good at working together to ensure my file was consistently up to date. Fast forward March, I walk now as if I have never sustained a fracture. Highly recommend and lots of exercises that cater to each phase of healing!!