How is CLEAR Institute different?

[DrStitzel]

How is CLEAR Institute different from bracing and surgery anyway?

I hope this can inform and/or clear (no pun intended) up any misconceptions.

Check out the 5 min introduction to CLEAR scoliosis treatment on www.clear-institute.org/help

The work we (CLEAR) are doing is based on the fact that scoliosis is not just a spinal curvature, but involves abnormal spinal curves in the neck, as well as hip rotation. Active scoliosis patients always present with forward head posture and loss of cervical lordosis (side view of the neck)(seen on x-ray). There is also abnormal biomechanical malposition of the head and neck. Therefore before the lateral scoliotic curvature can be corrected the cervical lordosis in the saggital plane must be re-established. After which the lateral curve (Cobb angle) is reduced.. These results are achieved with a combination of specific spinal adjustments done with instruments, specific rehabilitative procedures including proprioceptive neuromuscular re-education, muscle and ligament rehab and vibration therapy. The scoliotic spine compresses and rotates three dimensionally; therefore it must be de-rotated, and de-compressed in order to correct. We use, among other things, vibration platforms and a vibration scoliosis traction chair as well as specific bracing to pull the Cobb angle back into proper alignment.

Scoliosis is the body's natural and innate response to the loss of mechanical
function provided by the normal curves of the spine. When these curves disappear, the
body re-inserts them in another dimension. If scoliosis has a "cause," then it can only be
described as the laws of physics!

1.) Scoliosis is caused by a dysponesis (miscommunication) between the motor-
sensory input/output from the upper trunk to the lower. This is in turn caused by a
unilateral (one-sided) impairment of the spino-cerebellar loop, which is located in the
area between the occiput and the first cervical vertebra. Supporting this theory is the fact
that 100% of scoliosis patients have a problem with proprioception (orientation of the
body in time and space), and 100% of scoliosis patients have a loss of the curve in their
neck, resulting in forward head posture.

2.) Exercise rehabilitation therapy is mandatory to reverse the scoliosis. Without
patient compliance, no amount of care can help. It is necessary to retrain the postural
muscles of the body. Vibratory stimulation overrides the body's proprioceptive signals
and mechanoreceptors, thus facilitating retraining of the postural muscles.

3.) Cobb angles over 30 degrees cannot be reduced in the same manner as Cobb
angles under 30 degrees. The muscles contract more on the convexity of the curve, rather
than the concavity, as is the case with angles under 30 degrees. Normal laws of
biomechanics do not apply in patients with Cobb angles of more than 30 degrees!

4.) One component is universally lacking in nearly all
forms of scoliosis treatment today: the effect of the cervical
spine in determining spinal pathology, gait, stance, and overall
posture. The head controls all components of the spine below
it, much like how the engine controls the direction of a train.
Without regard for which direction the locomotive is heading
in, how is it possible to control the boxcars behind it? The very
first aspect that must be addressed in scoliosis correction is the
cervical spine; specifically, correcting the forward head posture
by restoring the curve and the normal ranges of motion in the
neck, especially between the occiput (C0) and the atlas (C1).
This is why lateral cervical views in neutral, flexion, and
extension are necessary. Follow-up x-rays should be performed roughly every three
months as objective proof of improvement; should the patient's progress plateau or
regress, additional rehabilitation or alterations to the protocol may be required.
Obviously thoracic views are necessary to measure the Cobb angle, but stay away from
full-spine views! The rate of distortion is too high to allow for consistency and accuracy
when comparing measurements between pre-and post-x-rays. It is also important to
evaluate the curve in the low back, and rotation in the hips with lateral and A-P lumbar x-
rays, and correct any deviation from normal that is found.

[Hope 404]

No doubt many of the facts you stated above are 100% true in my daughter's
case.

Her spine is "screwed up everywhere!!!!" NOT just the cobbs. Her "normal " cervical, lumbar, and thoracic curves all look different from the rest of the people in our family.

Glad CLEAR deals with the spine as a whole, not just those cobbs!!!!

[DrStitzel]

EXACTLY! The head bone is connected to the neck bone, the neck bone is connected to the thoracic bone, ect.......

Scoliosis is the physical spinal manifestation of a neurological mis-orientation to gravity.

[s4sarah]

This is brilliant, just brilliant, why can't more doctors understand this?

Hard bracing, then traditional surgery is sooo out dated! Treatments have come so far, why are a lot of doctors still stuck on the hard brace at 25, then surgery at 50? It's pretty clear a lot of these outdated methods aren't working and/or cause other issues. Like hard bracing resulting in deformed ribs.

This answers my questions why my Spine is so out of whack. It feels like I have a whole bunch of curves, but really it's just a result of the Cobb angle. If you think about the sturcture of the spine it can't just have a clean neat scoliosic curve(s) there is going to be more too it.


Thanks, this has really, really helped!

[DrStitzel]

This is brilliant, just brilliant, why can't more doctors understand this?

Hard bracing, then traditional surgery is sooo out dated! Treatments have come so far, why are a lot of doctors still stuck on the hard brace at 25, then surgery at 50? It's pretty clear a lot of these outdated methods aren't working and/or cause other issues. Like hard bracing resulting in deformed ribs.

This answers my questions why my Spine is so out of whack. It feels like I have a whole bunch of curves, but really it's just a result of the Cobb angle. If you think about the sturcture of the spine it can't just have a clean neat scoliosic curve(s) there is going to be more too it.


Thanks, this has really, really helped!

Thanks for taking the time to read it all Sarah.....definately a lengthy post.

The Cobb angle (and spinal deformity) is really just a "symptom" of the unseen neurological condition that is outwardly and physically manifested as scoliosis. It is kind of like watching the wind out a window. You can't see the wind, but you can see the effects of the wind on the trees, grass, ect....the same is true with scoliosis...you can't see the neurological condition, but you can see it's effects on the spine.

Deep huh?

[Hope 404]

IF the neurological reason for scoliosis could be "fixed"

would the scoliosis heal

over time

on its own ?????????? BLAH!!!!!

[burdle]

I am new to forum. I recently contacted the Clear Institute for more information and was told that a Dr. Nathan Wagner would contact me but I have not heard anything.

I am also a member of the forum 'that must not be mentioned' as having put off surgery for nearly 20 years I am finding the pain so bad that I don;t know what other road to explore!