August has almost departed and it has been a very busy month.

Last month I ended the blog with.. to be continued..and was hoping to write more over the month but never had the chance to do so.  I recognise that the text version of the method appears very complex, but the theory behind the method is very logical and simple. However in practice, it is time consuming to learn correctly and to perfrom correctly.

Patients often wonder why we need to allocate so much time to learning the method but once going through the process understand why it is necessary. 

Over the next few articles I will try to describe the method more clearly as well as provide scoliosis related info.

	I saw this case this month who presented with moderate to severe cervical pain. She is approx 40 years of age and was diagnosed and went through initial treatment in the UK.  What was striking with her reported history is that she recalls being told by her specialists never to have children because of her scoliosis.  Current thoughts are that women with scoliosis are able to bear children and I recommend that you discuss concerns with your treating specialist.
	Alongside is a classic view of a scoliosis xray. I have inserted the Schroth terminology to define the particular areas of a scoliotic curve. This xray has the a right thoracic convex curve which is a very typical curve. The convex thoracic curve area on the body is termed the "Paket" and the concave thoracic side is called the "weak side". The convex lumbar curve to the left is called the lumbar prominence and its opposite concave side is called the weak zone. In the majority of curves the vertabrae of the convex areas will shift sidewards and rotate. This then causes a collapse of the concave side which is the reasoning for the term weak side. The rotated convex sides are seen as a rib hump or lumbar hump  when bending over.
	A view of the collapsed weak zone

 Last month I wrote about working with a special young man from Melbourne. Today I received the following email from his mother:

L had his Xray today and his cobb angle measures 29 degrees, compared to 38 on initial assessment with signs of some reduction in the rotation component of the curve (just looking at the spineous processes). We both feel very relieved that he has gained this amount of correction, and appreciated a surprised and positive response from Dr T(orthopaedic surgeon)!! Of course we are aware that once he is no longer wearing the brace he can regress, but he is certainly heading in the right direction.

Responses like these are always rewarding, and I hope that we can keep L heading in the right direction.  I am further hopeful that if he can keep up with his exercises then we can build up sufficient strength and musculopostural (sorry- my own word) memory to maintain his corrections.

L returned for his follow up treatment today. He has been in his Boston brace for a few weeks and has been very committed with his exercises.

Below are his before and after x-rays.

Image of Sept 2010	Image of May 2010