Scoliosis can occur in any age group.
Infantile
Infant Idiopathic Scoliosis (IIS) represents children from birth to 2 years of age. This group is typically growing at a faster relative pace and therefore requires very frequent brace replacement and/or revisions and consequently requires multiple visits.
Juvenile
Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (JIS) is children aged 2 to 10 years old. This group requires a similar solution to the adolescent group but necessitates more control from their brace to accommodate the inability to fully understand and perform postural corrections. This group is typically growing at a slower pace and therefore requires less frequent brace replacements.
Adolescent
Adolescent Idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is children over the age of 10 years old up until skeletal maturity. Skeleteal maturity varies from one person to another and can be anywhere from age 12 to age 18. Scoliosis is most progressive in adolescent years, particularly in girls. During the adolescent growth spurt a curve can progress as much as 4 degrees a month. However this is also the period of time when a well executed treatment plan can have most effect on a curve and actually reduce the curve.
There are rarely symptons with adolscent scoliosis and therefore the curve is not often diagnosed until it has progressed significantly.
Most scoliosis treatment plans are ineffective because they fail to recognize the need for aggressive correction during this phase and only act to slow the progression.
Our primary goal of treatment is to avoid progression of the curve so that the child is not left with a curve that will cause problems in later life and/or require surgical correcton. Bracing must be aggressive and must be worn full time (21-22 hours/day) and Schroth exercises must be done on a daily basis. With a thorough treatment plan and a compliant patients we are consistently seeing reduction of their curves.
Scoliosis differs slightly between each patient but usually follow certain patterns. We have identified and classified 9 patterns of scoliosis and individual treatment plans are designed accordingly.