Many NSF forum members will know the name of Dr. Martha Hawes, a plant physiologist at the Univ. of Arizona who was diagnosed with scoliosis as a pre-adolescent but refused surgery. Instead, she worked with an osteopath and other non-surgical practitioners. She has written articles about her treatment, one of them in the NSF newsletter The Spinal Connection (vol 18, no. 1, 2002). She has also collaborated with NSF president Joe O'Brien on scoliosis-related publications. Her book Scoliosis and the Human Spine is sold through the NSF Store: proceeds benefit the NSF. Now she has published an update to her accounts of her own treatment.
http://www.scoliosisjournal.com/cont...-7161-4-27.pdf
Synopsis of her results:
Increase in height: 2 cm between 1990 and 2005
Improved pulmonary symptoms: Vital capacity in 1996 = 1.6 liters (71% predicted), 2005 = 3.99 liters (115%). Relief from respiratory symptoms including dyspnea and recurrent respiratory infection was maintained.
Improvement in torso symmetry: In 1992, there was a 12+2 cm difference between the left and right hemi-thorax at maximum inhalation, and a 10+1 cm difference at maximum exhalation. By 2005, reduction to 2+2 cm and 1 +1 cm, respectively. Rib prominence reduced from 18 +3 to 11 +2 degrees.
Increase in sagittal plane Cobb magnitude: Cobb angle of the sagittal thoracic curvature increased from 17+2 degrees in 2001 to 33+3 degrees in 2005.
Decrease in coronal plane Cobb magnitude: From 1990 through 2005 the magnitude of Cobb angle for the primary thoracic curve declined by >10 degrees.
http://www.scoliosisjournal.com/cont...-7161-4-27.pdf
Synopsis of her results:
Increase in height: 2 cm between 1990 and 2005
Improved pulmonary symptoms: Vital capacity in 1996 = 1.6 liters (71% predicted), 2005 = 3.99 liters (115%). Relief from respiratory symptoms including dyspnea and recurrent respiratory infection was maintained.
Improvement in torso symmetry: In 1992, there was a 12+2 cm difference between the left and right hemi-thorax at maximum inhalation, and a 10+1 cm difference at maximum exhalation. By 2005, reduction to 2+2 cm and 1 +1 cm, respectively. Rib prominence reduced from 18 +3 to 11 +2 degrees.
Increase in sagittal plane Cobb magnitude: Cobb angle of the sagittal thoracic curvature increased from 17+2 degrees in 2001 to 33+3 degrees in 2005.
Decrease in coronal plane Cobb magnitude: From 1990 through 2005 the magnitude of Cobb angle for the primary thoracic curve declined by >10 degrees.
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