CLEAR Up Scoliosis Problems Without Painful Braces and Surgeries
Today 1 out of 100 people has some type of scoliosis. Until recently, treatment for moderate to severe cases of scoliosis has required extensive surgery or constant brace wearing. The current medical model for scoliosis treatment is being challenged through research and statistical data about the effectiveness of bracing and surgery. Scoliosis treatment pioneers have developed a CLEAR method that offers alternatives to invasive and expensive spinal procedures by taking a proactive approach to treatment. The CLEAR method offers patients effective treatment options that reduce the size of the spinal curvature and improve overall body posture without braces or surgery. Learn more about this groundbreaking approach to scoliosis treatment.
Scoliosis at a Glance
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that is most commonly found in children (girls more than boys) during a growth spurt. Each scoliosis case is different as are the degrees of curvature. The exact causes of scoliosis are unknown but it has been linked to some neuromuscular diseases. In adults, scoliosis is often a result of trauma or degenerative issues.
The CLEAR Method for Treating Scoliosis
The CLEAR Institute method isn’t a single technique, but rather a combination of techniques to help scoliosis patients get well. The method offers a combination of machine-based ligament stretching, adjustments and exercises aimed to correct the spinal curve over time. The CLEAR method was born from the need for a more proactive approach in the treatment and detection of scoliosis, especially when the curves are still small. The CLEAR method challenges the current model of scoliosis treatment and the effectiveness of bracing and surgery.
The Traditional Approach to Scoliosis
The traditional approach to scoliosis, which has been used for over a decade, is to monitor a child’s spinal curvature and not begin any treatment if the spinal curvature is between 10 and 25 degrees. Once the curvature nears the 25-degree mark a rigid brace is usually prescribed, which the child must wear 23 hours a day until skeletal maturity–usually between the ages of 16 and 18. If the curve progresses to 40 degrees, surgery is recommended where a large portion of the vertebrae are fused to the spine so it cannot bend in an effort to correct the deformity. Metal implants such as rods, screws, hooks or wires are put in to limit mobility while the vertebrae fuse. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons still using traditional approaches to treat scoliosis are dismissive of the alternative approaches available. Through education, positive data and results, the CLEAR Institute™ is trying to make its protocol an acceptable option.
Early Intervention Makes a Difference
The founders of the CLEAR method strongly believe that an early intervention program is requisite to truly succeeding with scoliosis treatment. Through their experience working with larger scoliotic curvatures, they have learned that parents and patients had a greater likelihood of avoiding bracing or surgery if they treated the curvatures when they were first diagnosed when the spine is more flexible. While not all cases will conform to a rehabilitation-based program, it should definitely be considered as as a first line of treatment.
Early Detection and New Technology
Catching scoliosis early is still a challenge for doctors because parents often don’t know what they should be looking for, and the Adam’s test (forward bending) performed in most elementary schools is unable to pick up spinal curvatures under 20 degrees. New technology is now available to help aid in the discovery of scoliosis. CLEAR method doctors are able to offer a test called ScoliScore™. This saliva test is 99% accurate in identifying the risk factors to determine the rate of progression of scoliosis. The ScoliScore™ AIS prognostic test uses collected saliva to compare the patient’s genetic predisposition against 53 known genetic markers. This genetic information allows the doctor to then classify the patient into low, intermediate or high-risk categories.
The CLEAR Method Form of Treatment
The CLEAR scoliosis treatment program incorporates several distinct philosophies and does not rely solely on chiropractic medicine. The main principles are founded on an understanding that scoliosis is chiefly a neurological-based disease; that the body is not responding to gravity properly and is attempting to establish balance by creating curvature. The CLEAR method uses what is referred to as the MIX, FIX, SET model of care:
- MIX procedures create flexibility and soften the spine, primarily on the inside of the curvature, where tight ligaments resist correction. When the ligaments undergo cyclical motion, traction and de-rotation, they heat up and lengthen, resulting in less resistance to change.
- FIX procedures require moderate, precise adjustments to the spinal joints and bones, relying on information from a detailed x-ray analysis.
- SET procedures are where the most dramatic headway has been made with the CLEAR method treatment process. A scoliosis traction chair works to use traction, de-rotation and whole-body vibration techniques to untwist the spine while the patient executes certain exercises. The chair strengthens the spinal and core muscles, unlike spinal bracing that usually weakens the muscles.
Reactive Care for Scoliosis
The doctors that use the CLEAR method also employ reactive care in the treatment plan. Using specific body weights that cause the body to react and contract muscles, the spine can be repositioned and relearn a new alignment. Patients are also encouraged to use the chair and exercises in their homes to aid in the permanency of the new position.
Who Can Receive CLEAR Treatment for Scoliosis?
Right now there are only a few clinics in the United States that operate as designated CLEAR Institute Scoliosis Treatment Centers. Doctors who work at these clinics have received certification and training that allows them to treat scoliotic curvatures that vary from 5 to 80 degrees. The CLEAR method treatment protocol has been designed for patients who live within a 3-hour driving radius of a CLEAR clinic. Appointments typically range between 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the severity of the condition, and usually cover a time period of three to four months.
Call Now for a Consultation
Spinal Healthcare and Physical Medicine’s Chiropractic Resource Center is a certified CLEAR Institute Scoliosis Center. Contact us for more information or call (260) 493-6565 to schedule a free consultation.
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My daughter is suffering from scoliosis; that’s why I’ve been looking for a health care service that provides a minimally invasive treatment. I agree with you that scoliosis is quite related to neuromuscular diseases because this is what her doctor explained to me. I never knew that FIX is a kind of procedure that requires a precise adjustment.
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