Scoliosis Blog

It's about 4 years since my first introduction into the Schroth world of spinal deformity management. A lot longer since my time at the Egoscue clinic in San Diego and many, many more years since I was a little kid growing up and training in the gymnastics halls and diving pools of Johannesburg. 

In 1990, whilst a 3rd year physiotherapy student, I conducted a research project titled "The effect of sound biofeedback on balance when testing on a tilt board". It was a cute little project and one of my best friends, Joel, an electrical engineer selflessly built an electronic timing device and helped me hack together a crude balance tilt board. The literature review included a section on posture, balance and a measure of balance called stabilometry. 

23 years later, we took delivery of one of the most advanced posture and balance measuring systems in the world.  Our Formetric 4D system with integrated stabilometry force plate has arrived and I am testing it out on patients. I have seen a few of them in operation around the world but now I can really play!!! There is quite a steep learning curve in the interpretation of the data and the tests, but I am really enjoying the process. I have realised that I've done 20 years of preparation for this.

I am really lucky to have the team behind me in the clinic. Carol, our Irish Leprechaun, worked really hard to get the TGA approval and decided today to have a ribbon cutting ceremony for the device. Strawberry's, Champagne, Cookies, and even white gloves (thanks to Tim) to cut the ribbon. 

I think sometimes we get lost in the intensity of the work to step back and take a breather. Which brings me to 2 cases I saw last week. 2 young adult cases, both post fusion and both referred by their doctors. They haven't come from their surgeons but from their GP's. We spent time going through their curves and the surgical corrections and some general exercises that they can integrate into ther regular exercise programs. The most important message that I had for these cases, was... to step back from the intensity of the scoliosis process and get on with life. 

I finally managed to complete the analysis of the data on adult spinal deformity and compensations. I submitted the proposal to the Australian Physiotherapy Association Conference and am still awaiting their decision. I met with an esteemed Professor of Endocrinolgy as I have some intersting ideas about low bone density and spinal deformity. We had a really interesting discussion and it was enlightening to find a intellectual sparring partner, who when shouts out, show me the data....  I have it right there.

July!! its been a busy month. Next month its back to the Medtronic spinal deformity meeting!!!  Thank you Medtronic - I think.