http://www.fixscoliosis.com/threads/...based-medicine
I am going to bullet out Michael1960's pertinent questions and report back if Stitzel answers any of them. These questions are:
1. What study or evidence is available that I can read that shows CLEAR works, and that it continues to work for the child into adulthood?
2. How long has CLEAR been in existence? How many patients (JIS or AIS) are now adults?
3. What are the results of 5-10 years into adulthood? Let's assume we need results of an AIS child, with an aggressive curve, who is now at least 20-25 years old. Has CLEAR been around long enough to present studies on this (compared to the numerous bracing studies).
4. If there is a study, by CLEAR Institute, or some other organization, is there an independent study to validate it? Often the creators of a treatment have a valid study, only to have it invalidated by an independent study. And the independent study is the one that seems to get the most credit for being right. For example, I know you have made references to Weiss regarding the SpineCor study.
5. Is there data/study that shows an aggressive curve of an AIS (10-12 yr olds), maybe 35-45+ degrees, how much the curve was reduced, and what happened as he or she went through the growth spurt years (maybe 11-13 for girls, maybe 13-16 for boys). And was the reduction maintained? What kind of treatment was required before and after the growth spurt? And what are the results the following years into adulthood? For bracing, many of these questions are answered, and unfortunately, not many good results. But can CLEAR claim positive results in comparison to bracing, VBS, or any other treatment? With no study, it is hard to validate and/or compare CLEAR to other treatment methods.
6. Also, with CLEAR, it would be good to see results based on 2 week intensive programs and home exercises versus an onging weekly treatment program throughout the year and home exercises. Does this exist? What is your opinion on what is most effective?
7. What is success defined by CLEAR? How would you define a successful CLEAR treatment of an AIS patient? curve reduction, stop curve progression, avoid surgery, reduce pain, etc.