I have been a practicing chiropractor for over 10 years here in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I have certifications in spinal biomechanics, neurology, and spine rehabilitation accumulating over 700 post graduate hours of study in these fields. My practice philosophy has always been a corrective structural approach utilizing pre and post x-rays to determine the outcome of care along with the obvious symptom reduction and functional improvements that follow. I have often found it ironic that most chiropractic colleges teach future chiropractors that "your spine is your lifeline, poor spine function creates ill-health," but yet colleges instruct their students that changing spinal structure and measuring it using post x-rays is not the goal of care. Does not structure dictate function? This philosophy is most apparent with their hands off, non-corrective approach to scoliosis. I have had great success in my practice correcting structural alignment of the spine demonstrated by post x-ray, not by following the pack, but rather by searching outside the dogmatic segmental adjusting approach that the colleges still encourage. In fact, the majority of my patients with smaller spine curvatures, under 30 degrees, have typically reduced nicely using standard clinical protocols taught to me by Dr. Pettibon and Dr. Harrison respectively.
The most challenging cases for me in the past have been scoliosis curvatures over 30 degrees. For some unknown reason these curvature patterns did not respond well to my standard corrective procedures, meaning they didn't reduce much when measured with post treatment x-rays. The typical outcome with a scoliosis case over 30 degrees was generally limited to symptom reduction and some functional improvement. Correction or even stabilization of the larger scoliosis cases was rare. Accepting this outcome was difficult because most of my patients with larger scoliotic curvatures had to deal with progression and most likely the traditional medical intervention that would follow. If not properly reduced and stabilized, patients with scoliotic spines would have significant future health issues and a potentially reduced lifespan.
Traditional methods of scoliosis treatment like bracing or surgery come with significant drawbacks. According to published medical studies, bracing is not an effective long term solution for reducing or stabilizing scoliosis. In addition, the more commonly used hard braces are not user friendly, are extremely uncomfortable, limiting, and ugly. When a child is confined to one of these contraptions a normal childhood, unfortunately, is out of the question. Surgery on the other hand is invasive, traumatic, and creates permanent limitations along with a whole list of additional problems that didn't exist prior to having the surgical rods fused to their spine. The flexible braces which promote more comfort and functionality, in my opinion, are a complete waste of time for scoliotic curves over 30 degrees. My inability to effectively correct, reduce, and stabilize scoliosis using non-traditional methods was simply not acceptable, therefore a new approach was definitely needed.
C.L.E.A.R. Institute, a research clinic focusing primarily on scoliosis correction, reduction, and stabilization without the use of braces or surgery, is certainly filling this much needed void. Dr. Dennis Woggon, founder of C.L.E.A.R. Institute, is one of my mentors. Prior to starting my practice in Green Bay I attended many lectures and workshops taught by Dr. Woggon. In 1997 I went to Dr. Woggon's clinic in St. Cloud, Minnesota. While in St. Cloud, I observed daily clinical rounds and learned that measured structural changes of the spine were in fact possible and in most cases predictable. Again something contrary to what I was taught at Palmer College of Chiropractic. At that time about 11 years ago, Dr. Woggon did not have any of the new technology used for advanced scoliosis treatment. It wasn't until about 2 years ago when I attended the scoliosis training sessions that I was exposed to this new approach regarding scoliosis correction. While working with patients using this specialized equipment, I realized this remarkable new treatment protocol was definitely a breakthrough in scoliosis treatment.
When correcting scoliosis, one of the key strategies needed to consistently reduce and stabilize larger curves is the ability to apply traction, derotation(unwinding of the scoliosis), and vibration all at one time. This is accomplished by a unique scoliosis traction vibration chair developed by scoliosis researchers. The other very important concept, which I have been using for years to reduce smaller curvatures, is to properly restore the normal cervical and lumbar "lordosis" (side view curves of the spine) prior to derotation. This clearly demonstrates why bracing and surgery are not effective long term solutions. Both fail to take into consideration these key biomechanical components of scoliosis.
In one of my previous articles I talked about initiating events as the cause of poor spinal alignment and why standard chiropractic adjustments and exercises prescribed by physical therapists were ineffective solutions for correcting poor alignment. In more than 95% of scoliosis patients examined by there is a significant loss of the normal lordotic curve in the neck, low back, or both. This clinical finding appears to be an initiating event in the body's production of scoliosis. When the spine loses these curves it compensates through the addition of more curve elsewhere. The spine is a master of compensation innately reorganizing to protect the delicate spinal cord that it houses. When abnormal tension builds in the spinal cord due to loss of cervical and lumbar lordosis, the spine innately changes its normally straight front to back view to a curved position to decrease adverse mechanical forces placed on the central nervous system.
When doctors force the patient's scoliosis to reduce by rigid bracing or surgical rods, according to this new theory, they are going against nature. If the body innately put the scoliotic curves in due to the loss of lordosis, then we can not force the reduction without creating damaging health consequences long term. This biomechanical reasoning also demonstrates the power of nature when a great majority of patients with rods in their spines, shockingly, have their scoliosis return to pre-surgery measurement and in some cases a patient's scoliosis even progresses to higher than pre-surgery numbers. WOW!
This breakthrough thinking to effectively reduce and stabilize scoliosis consists of a three step process called "MIX" "FIX" "SET". Step one "MIX" involves unlocking the spine using motorized traction while derotating the curvature and applying vibration to soften ligaments. Specialized equipment is used to provide accurate traction and low frequency vibration to the appropriate ligaments. Step two "FIX" involves restoring the cervical and lumbar lordosis as well as decreasing angulation above and below the primary curvature utilizing a specific biomechanical adjustment protocol. This protocol is a combination of instrument and manual chiropractic adjusting in combination with reactive neuromuscular reeducation. By adding specific weights to the head, shoulders, and hips, your body compensates and induces a reactive posture correction. This reactive therapy also utilizes the visual righting reflexes by having the patient wear specialized glasses to further enhance corrective learning. The Vibe, a whole body vibration platform is then utilized while wearing weights and glasses to stimulate slow twitch muscle receptors responsible for coordinating spinal alignment. Step three "SET" is actually a combination of fixing and stabilizing using a specialized scoliosis traction chair. this chair effectively reduces the primary curvature by applying traction and derotation as well as vibration programmed for neuromuscular reeducation. By teaching the spine rather than forcing correction you are able to use nature rather than going against it.
This new scoliosis protocol also focuses on home exercise therapy to assist the doctor in correcting the muscle and ligament imbalances. The home care program is a vital component to long term success. In some cases a home scoliosis traction chair is prescribed. In addition patients have access to a mentorship program for scoliosis patients and educational materials to help understand this new approach.
The theories behind this program of scoliosis correction make sense and agree with the natural laws of spinal biomechanics. By first restoring the lordosis you are creating space and reducing adverse mechanical stress on the central nervous system. Then doctors can begin reducing the compensatory twisting effects created by the patient's nervous system due to loss of lordosis, starting above and below the primary scoliotic curves. Last we can then gradually retrain the spine letting it feel what its like to be without the scoliosis by placing the patient in the specialized chair. Once the nervous system learns through repetition that the scoliosis is not necessary to protect the body it will then gradually correct and accept life without it.
Many patients with scoliotic curves over 30 degrees have seen reduction and stabilization of their scoliosis using this new protocol. In addition many patients experience symptom relief and measurable functional improvements as well. The program has been utilized with varying age groups with excellent clinical outcomes. There are very few problems with patient comfort and patient satisfaction has been consistently high. I will continue to research this disease in order to better serve patients with scoliosis. By continuing to develop new technology doctors can effectively provide a better, less invasive scoliosis treatment option for patients with scoliosis.
The most challenging cases for me in the past have been scoliosis curvatures over 30 degrees. For some unknown reason these curvature patterns did not respond well to my standard corrective procedures, meaning they didn't reduce much when measured with post treatment x-rays. The typical outcome with a scoliosis case over 30 degrees was generally limited to symptom reduction and some functional improvement. Correction or even stabilization of the larger scoliosis cases was rare. Accepting this outcome was difficult because most of my patients with larger scoliotic curvatures had to deal with progression and most likely the traditional medical intervention that would follow. If not properly reduced and stabilized, patients with scoliotic spines would have significant future health issues and a potentially reduced lifespan.
Traditional methods of scoliosis treatment like bracing or surgery come with significant drawbacks. According to published medical studies, bracing is not an effective long term solution for reducing or stabilizing scoliosis. In addition, the more commonly used hard braces are not user friendly, are extremely uncomfortable, limiting, and ugly. When a child is confined to one of these contraptions a normal childhood, unfortunately, is out of the question. Surgery on the other hand is invasive, traumatic, and creates permanent limitations along with a whole list of additional problems that didn't exist prior to having the surgical rods fused to their spine. The flexible braces which promote more comfort and functionality, in my opinion, are a complete waste of time for scoliotic curves over 30 degrees. My inability to effectively correct, reduce, and stabilize scoliosis using non-traditional methods was simply not acceptable, therefore a new approach was definitely needed.
C.L.E.A.R. Institute, a research clinic focusing primarily on scoliosis correction, reduction, and stabilization without the use of braces or surgery, is certainly filling this much needed void. Dr. Dennis Woggon, founder of C.L.E.A.R. Institute, is one of my mentors. Prior to starting my practice in Green Bay I attended many lectures and workshops taught by Dr. Woggon. In 1997 I went to Dr. Woggon's clinic in St. Cloud, Minnesota. While in St. Cloud, I observed daily clinical rounds and learned that measured structural changes of the spine were in fact possible and in most cases predictable. Again something contrary to what I was taught at Palmer College of Chiropractic. At that time about 11 years ago, Dr. Woggon did not have any of the new technology used for advanced scoliosis treatment. It wasn't until about 2 years ago when I attended the scoliosis training sessions that I was exposed to this new approach regarding scoliosis correction. While working with patients using this specialized equipment, I realized this remarkable new treatment protocol was definitely a breakthrough in scoliosis treatment.
When correcting scoliosis, one of the key strategies needed to consistently reduce and stabilize larger curves is the ability to apply traction, derotation(unwinding of the scoliosis), and vibration all at one time. This is accomplished by a unique scoliosis traction vibration chair developed by scoliosis researchers. The other very important concept, which I have been using for years to reduce smaller curvatures, is to properly restore the normal cervical and lumbar "lordosis" (side view curves of the spine) prior to derotation. This clearly demonstrates why bracing and surgery are not effective long term solutions. Both fail to take into consideration these key biomechanical components of scoliosis.
In one of my previous articles I talked about initiating events as the cause of poor spinal alignment and why standard chiropractic adjustments and exercises prescribed by physical therapists were ineffective solutions for correcting poor alignment. In more than 95% of scoliosis patients examined by there is a significant loss of the normal lordotic curve in the neck, low back, or both. This clinical finding appears to be an initiating event in the body's production of scoliosis. When the spine loses these curves it compensates through the addition of more curve elsewhere. The spine is a master of compensation innately reorganizing to protect the delicate spinal cord that it houses. When abnormal tension builds in the spinal cord due to loss of cervical and lumbar lordosis, the spine innately changes its normally straight front to back view to a curved position to decrease adverse mechanical forces placed on the central nervous system.
When doctors force the patient's scoliosis to reduce by rigid bracing or surgical rods, according to this new theory, they are going against nature. If the body innately put the scoliotic curves in due to the loss of lordosis, then we can not force the reduction without creating damaging health consequences long term. This biomechanical reasoning also demonstrates the power of nature when a great majority of patients with rods in their spines, shockingly, have their scoliosis return to pre-surgery measurement and in some cases a patient's scoliosis even progresses to higher than pre-surgery numbers. WOW!
This breakthrough thinking to effectively reduce and stabilize scoliosis consists of a three step process called "MIX" "FIX" "SET". Step one "MIX" involves unlocking the spine using motorized traction while derotating the curvature and applying vibration to soften ligaments. Specialized equipment is used to provide accurate traction and low frequency vibration to the appropriate ligaments. Step two "FIX" involves restoring the cervical and lumbar lordosis as well as decreasing angulation above and below the primary curvature utilizing a specific biomechanical adjustment protocol. This protocol is a combination of instrument and manual chiropractic adjusting in combination with reactive neuromuscular reeducation. By adding specific weights to the head, shoulders, and hips, your body compensates and induces a reactive posture correction. This reactive therapy also utilizes the visual righting reflexes by having the patient wear specialized glasses to further enhance corrective learning. The Vibe, a whole body vibration platform is then utilized while wearing weights and glasses to stimulate slow twitch muscle receptors responsible for coordinating spinal alignment. Step three "SET" is actually a combination of fixing and stabilizing using a specialized scoliosis traction chair. this chair effectively reduces the primary curvature by applying traction and derotation as well as vibration programmed for neuromuscular reeducation. By teaching the spine rather than forcing correction you are able to use nature rather than going against it.
This new scoliosis protocol also focuses on home exercise therapy to assist the doctor in correcting the muscle and ligament imbalances. The home care program is a vital component to long term success. In some cases a home scoliosis traction chair is prescribed. In addition patients have access to a mentorship program for scoliosis patients and educational materials to help understand this new approach.
The theories behind this program of scoliosis correction make sense and agree with the natural laws of spinal biomechanics. By first restoring the lordosis you are creating space and reducing adverse mechanical stress on the central nervous system. Then doctors can begin reducing the compensatory twisting effects created by the patient's nervous system due to loss of lordosis, starting above and below the primary scoliotic curves. Last we can then gradually retrain the spine letting it feel what its like to be without the scoliosis by placing the patient in the specialized chair. Once the nervous system learns through repetition that the scoliosis is not necessary to protect the body it will then gradually correct and accept life without it.
Many patients with scoliotic curves over 30 degrees have seen reduction and stabilization of their scoliosis using this new protocol. In addition many patients experience symptom relief and measurable functional improvements as well. The program has been utilized with varying age groups with excellent clinical outcomes. There are very few problems with patient comfort and patient satisfaction has been consistently high. I will continue to research this disease in order to better serve patients with scoliosis. By continuing to develop new technology doctors can effectively provide a better, less invasive scoliosis treatment option for patients with scoliosis.
