If you’re looking for an opportunity to “poke the bear”, look no further than asking an orthopedist specializing in spinal disorders what he or she thinks of adult bracing for scoliosis…doctors absolutely hate this. Most will immediately tell you that you will get weaker and your scoliosis will get worse if you are an adult and start wearing a brace.

Adult scoliosis is surprisingly prevalent in our population. There are three types: Adult-onset, also known as De Novo Scoliosis, Progressing or Stable Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, and Secondary Scoliosis.

Ok, I know what you’re thinking…I’m going to try to sell you on some crazy contraption to the likes of the waist trainers that the Kardashians use and promote. Make some grandiose promises about body transformation that sound too good to be true…Not quite, although torso re-shaping can seem pretty magical.

So many of our patients walk into their first visit with us saying, “I’m here because I’ve seen those little old ladies hunched over their walkers, and I don’t want to be one of them.” The medical term for what they are referring to is kyphosis.

If you google search “Schroth Physical Therapy”, you will likely see pictures of people doing exercises on these sleek wooden ladder-looking contraptions. They are called Swedish ladders, or stall bars. These ladders are handmade, sturdy, aesthetically-pleasing, perfect for doing Schroth Physical Therapy…

How is it possible to not realize that you are leaning to the left, that your weight is mostly on your left foot when you’re standing, or that your neck is tilted to one side? Answer: That big old adaptable brain of ours. Specifically, the vestibular system.