A new understanding of scoliosis

[DrStitzel]

"idiopathic scoliosis" is a unique and confusing condition. While the true root cause of the condition remains unknown, researchers are slowly piecing together clues that are finally giving shape the very nature of the spinal disease.

First of all, it appears scoliosis of spine isn't necessary a spinal condition in it's earliest stages. Virtually every well accepted theory on the root cause of scoliosis of spine cites a yet-to-be discovered neurological deficit or under-development in the automatic postural control centers of the hind brain (brain stem) that is unable to coordinate rapid growth during adolescence. This seems to hold true until the scoliosis of spine reaches 20-25 degrees (cobb angle method), where as bio-mechnical forces appear to drive further scoliosis progression. Essentially, it appears the root cause of idiopathic scoliosis by lie in genetic pre-disposition and the mechanisms driving the progression of the scoliosis spine by be environmental (primarily bio-mechanical).
This "multi-factorial" understanding of the causes and progression divers in scoliosis of spine are significant breakthrough in terms of prognostic testing and treatent of the "idiopathic scoliosis" disease.
Mathmatically, it could be expressed:

Genetic Pre-disposition + Environmental Influences = Idiopathic Scoliosis

Metaphorically, it could be described in terms of toothpaste being squeezed out of a tube.(Pictured below) The genetic pre-disposition would be the equvalent of how tightly the cap is screwed on; The environmental influence is how hard the hand is squeezing the tube; and the amount of toothpaste being ejected out of the tube is the resulting combination of both the cap tightness and the pressure from the squeezing hand.
Armed with this basic understanding of scoliosis of spine, it is readily apperant that one must alter either the patients genetic pre-disposition and/or eliminate the environmental influences prior the curvature becoming progressive and bio-mechanically driven.

Role of genetic and environmental influences in scoliosis

Early Stage Scoliosis Intervention and Scoliscore Genetic Testing.
Based on the "multi-factorial" cause of progressive scoliosis of spine above, it is rather obvious that one must focus idiopathic scoliosis treatment on environmental influence reduction to alter the natural course of the condition. It is most beneficial to the patient if this is done prior to the curvature becoming progressive, because attempting to shove the toothpaste back into the tube (as in scoliosis brace treatment and scoliosis surgery) is rather messy, difficult, and ineffective.

Anyone with even the most basic understanding of algebra can tell you that a problem with 2 unknown variables can not be solved, and this was the case in scoliosis of spine (uknown genetic pre-disposition + unknown environmental influences) until recently. The talented researchers at Axial Bio-Tech have developed the Scoliscore genetic test which can very accurately identify which patients have a significantly higher genetic pre-disposition for developing progressive scoliosis of spine. In fact, the genetic test results are 99% accurate in comparing the patient's scoliosis genetic profile against a known severe scoliosis genetic profile. Armed with this now "known variable" of genetic pre-disposition, doctors can now turn their scoliosis treatment approaches towards elimination of environmental influences in the most "at risk" genetically pre-disposed patients.

What if we treated environmental factors, and not just Cobb angles?

Cobb angles are the most common method of describing an individual's scoliotic condition. However, Cobb angles are merely the end result of genetic and environmental factors interacting, so they (Cobb angles) are the symptomatic result of an underlying process, not the disease itself.

Genetic predisposition + Environmental Factors = Scoliosis (Cobb angles)

Based on this understanding, the only possible way to influence the end result (Cobb angles) is to manipulate either or both of the variables (GP and EF) from which the result (Cobb angle) is comprised from. I think this makes it pretty clear to see that any scoliosis treatment approach (scoliosis brace or scoliosis surgery) that attempts to alter the result (Cobb angle) without altering the one or both of the variables (genetics and environmental factors) is doomed for failure.

An Early Stage Scoliosis Intervention program has been developed over the past decade specifically designed to reduce and eliminate the environmenal influences (primarily bio-mechanical) that combine with the genetic pre-disposition to create idiopathic scoliosis.

Don't "watch and wait" while the curve gets worse. Any scoliosis treatment plan predicated on attempting to "push the toothpaste back into the tube" is doomed for failure. Observation only recommendations all-to-often wasting a patients best opportunity for preventing and perhaps even curing their scoliosis of spine condition.

It is never too late (or too early!) to take action and begin an idiopathic scoliosis environmental influence reduction treatment program, regardless of age, curve size, or genetic pre-disposition.