Prioritizing Your Mental Health Your scoliosis journey is often filled withs lots of ups and downs. We want you to celebrate your ups, but also take care of your mental health during the downs. All of us face stress and anxiousness at one point or another. These feelings are completely normal, but we want you to be able to work through these emotions in a positive way. Scolios-us is here to help you prioritize your mental health. Below are some ways that you can take care of your mind. 1. Participate in THE EMPOWER HOUR Join The Empower Hour and connect with other kids and teens just l ..read more

Best Buys for Scoliosis Surgery Recovery While the road to recovery after your scoliosis surgery is filled with ups and downs, there are some items that might make recovery easier for you. Below you'll find some tips about how to prepare and hear from kids and teens who have had surgery! 10 BEST BUYS 1. Grippy slippers/socks - The hospital will provide grippy socks, but many people do not find them to be very comfortable. To be prepared, buy yourself a comfy pair ahead of time. 2. Button-up pajamas/shirts - It will be hard to lift your arms to put on a regular shirt after surgery. Butt ..read more

No More Scoliosis Warriors We hear the phrase all the time - scoliosis warriors. It is frequently used to describe the brave young women and men who are diagnosed with scoliosis, and you often hear and see it on social media, t-shirts, etc. Here at Scolios-us, we've even used the phrase. But it's time we reconsider. Yes, you are brave. Yes, you are strong. Yes, you are resilient. Yes, you are determined. But you are NOT a scoliosis warrior. Why not? Because scoliosis is NOT the enemy. You are NOT battling scoliosis. You are NOT fighting against your body. Your body is NOT the enemy. Th ..read more

Rory Rides the Road Hi! I'm Rory, I found out I had scoliosis when I had just turned 17, back at the start of 2016. At the time I was in my final year of high school, and my friends and family had noticed that my right shoulder blade had been protruding abnormally (see hilarious school swimming carnival photo below) after returning from a trip to Malaysia, where I had been hiking and community volunteering, involving manual labour. In April of 2016 I went to my doctor who referred me to a physiotherapist who was able to get me to do a forward bend test, attempting to trace my spine down my ..read more

Dancing Through Scoliosis | Autumn's Journey Hi! My name is Autumn, and I am a 15-year-old ballerina with scoliosis. I was diagnosed at the age of 14 after my ballet teacher suspected that I might have scoliosis. After seeing an orthopedist, I was diagnosed with a moderately sized curve and was then was immediately fitted for a brace. I had to wear my brace for 20 hours a day for the next 12-18 months. At first, I was so afraid that my scoliosis might make my dreams of dancing impossible, but we worked with the doctors to do everything we could to control my curve. My mom found a local Sch ..read more

Text Neck: What is it and what can you do about it? An excerpt from the Scoliosis Coach Handbook by Dr. Andromeda Stevens Spine health includes the neck. We all spend too much time looking down at our phones and computers, so it's important to note that we can lose this important alignment. The loss of this cervical curve can create many neck issues and discomfort, as well as joint degeneration later in life. Sleeping on a good pillow with neck and head support is important, in addition to incorporating healthier postural habits while looking at our devices, reading, or computer work. Avoid te ..read more

Rebuilding the Body & Mind Relationship Written by Megan Glahn Castille I am by no means a good skier. But, during my trip to Salt Lake City in January 2023, being a mediocre skier and tackling a black slope for the first time meant so much more than just that. To give you some background, I have advocated for supporting scoliosis patients emotionally and socially for years now. While I do not have scoliosis myself, I have been able to empathize with these patients and witness firsthand what an impact the diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis has on adolescents. Over the past year, I’ve ga ..read more

Spinal Anatomy…and Scoliosis! Written by Emma Yuguchi Your spine is extremely complex and in fact – pretty remarkable! Throughout my scoliosis journey, I was intrigued at the amazing complexity of the spine. Although scoliosis can sometimes be confusing, it was fascinating to learn a little bit more about the backbone of my body. I remember seeing lots of x-rays and 2-D (flat) pictures, so it was really cool the few times when the doctor pulled out a 3-D model of a spine. You may have even seen a model when you walked into your orthopedist’s office. It really was interesting seeing something I ..read more

The Unknowns: Controllables vs Uncontrollables Written by Annie Kramer At the age of 12, I was diagnosed with severe idiopathic scoliosis. Walking into a new school as a 6th grader had its challenges, especially with the additional challenge of my worsening spine. Before I knew it my doctors put me in a full-time hard shell Boston brace. When wearing a hard shell brace that spans from my shoulders to below my hips, the simple things like tying my shoes, walking up stairs, and even sleeping began to present their own challenges. After 9 years, these uncontrollable situations became normal. It ..read more

A Long Journey from Anxiety to Gratitude Written by Marja Heinonen My daughter, Kaisa, was seven when she was diagnosed with scoliosis. She wore scoliosis braces for nine years, from seven to 16. I could have hardly imagined that the foremost emotions seventeen years later would be gratitude and pride. But those are the feelings on the surface now. At the beginning of the treatment, I was furious, disappointed, sad, and foremost worried—emotions far from gratitude and pride. I can still remember the shock when I first heard about the disease. I tried to adjust to the thought of ten long years ..read more