“Self Portrait” by Katie McDowell (18), New Orleans Center for Creative Arts "An Old Man in Military Costume" by Simone Wuttke (18), Dartmouth College (recent Benjamin Franklin High School graduate) "This oil on canvas painting is inspired by Rembrandt's 'An Old...
I have sat with anger ingrained in my ribs night after night. I know the five stages of grief. Why am I so stuck on anger? Denial was the first one. It hit when I stood in front of my fridge all alone in my house with my knees wobbling, staring at the screen on my...
Partner Yoga Poses by Laurie Azzano of Lolo’s Youth StudioYaaaas, finally! Hello, summer! Inhale deadlines. Exhale freedom. If you’re like most, summer represents one big sigh of relief. No more early morning alarm clocks, homework, tests, school drama, or crazy,...
Makes 20-24 brownies (depending on how big you slice them) BAKE TIME: 30 minutesIngredients 6 eggs 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 3 cups brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 2 sticks butter 1/2 cup Crisco shortening 1 1/2 cups baking cocoa powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons...
If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, or any form of mental distress, reach out to someone right away who can be there for you. Professional help is always an option when your psychological well-being is at risk. There is zero shame in...
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Have you ever wondered how you can apply astrology to your everyday life but don’t know where to start? Astrology can be very complex and sometimes overwhelming to interpret, so I have compiled a quick guide to help you consciously incorporate daily practices to...
Did you know clothing isn’t biodegradable?That means it doesn’t decompose once it’s dumped in the trash—it just sits in a landfill and creates nasty greenhouse gases in our environment. “We have to think longer and harder about the clothing we wear, where it came...
New Orleanians love their glitter, and, more than ever, we all deserve a little extra sparkle in our lives. Addie Ellis of the local biodegradable glitter company Glitter Nymph shared with us how to make shimmery oil that is good for your skin and nature. Since you...
I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea What it’s about: Laure will do anything to prove a Black girl can be a star in the cutthroat world of Parisian ballet, even make a deal with a primordial power she finds in a pulsating river of blood in the...
Are you looking for inspiring ways to volunteer in the local community while fulfilling your school’s service hour requirements? We’ve talked to some great organizations in the area that rely on volunteers to help their wonderful programs run. Learn more about each...
Imagine that you just found out you are pregnant. For some young people, this may be exciting news; for others, it is not. Questions swirl: How can I take care of a baby and finish school? How can I afford to be a parent if I don’t finish school? How will my parents...
Lucy Scholz is my “shero” because she ran 300 miles from Los Angeles, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of The Speed Project. That’s roughly like running to Houston, Texas, or Seaside, Florida, from New Orleans! Not only did she win the 2023 competition and...
Careers in Skilled Trades With the cost of college continuing to rise, skilled trade careers are a great alternative pathway to stable, well-paying work and upward social mobility. Many trade workers provide essential services and help build and maintain important...
Scoliosis often strikes at the toughest age and it can be very overwhelming—especially when bracing is recommended. Will a brace hurt? What clothes do you wear with a brace? Should you tell your friends or classmates about it?
Lora’s story on the previous page is exactly why Scolios-Us was created. The goal of Scolios-us is to ease the transition into the scoliosis world as much as possible by providing kids, teens, and parents with the information and support they need. The Scolios-us website, bracingforscoliosus.org, has videos featuring current and former bracers, blog posts, discussion boards, scoliosis-specific resources, and brace, surgery, and exercise information. We want patients and their families to see they are not alone on this journey. We and so many other resources are here to support them!
Illustrations by Silke Pielsticker
Scoliosis is a common condition affecting many teenagers, especially teenage girls. Scoliosis is a sideways curving of the spine. In addition to the sideways curvature, scoliosis involves rotation of the spine. Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is the most common type of scoliosis and occurs most often during the growth spurt right before puberty. The exact cause of the curving is unknown. Girls are more likely to develop scoliosis than boys and tend to have larger curves.
Scoliosis is often found during routine checkups. When you go in for a checkup or have a physical exam, the doctor will ask you to bend forward to observe your spine. This test is called the Adams Forward Bend Test. If you have scoliosis, your back may look uneven. If your back is uneven, your doctor will send you to get an x-ray of your spine. The x-ray will confirm if you have scoliosis, and it can reveal the severity of your scoliosis and the location of your curve.
How the doctor decides to treat scoliosis depends on many factors, including the severity of the curve and the patient’s age. In general, curves less than 20 degrees are observed by the doctor, while curves over 20 degrees are treated with bracing. Physical therapy, specifically Schroth therapy, can also be used to prevent curves from progressing, or getting larger. Doctors typically begin to discuss surgical options if a curve reaches 50 degrees or more.
Generally speaking, scoliosis curves grow when you are growing. Once your bones finish growing, small to medium curves typically remain stable and do not worsen over time. Larger curves of 50 degrees or more may increase gradually over time. This is why doctors may recommend surgery at that point.
The goal of bracing is to prevent curves from getting worse and to avoid surgery. Scoliosis braces are customized to each person. They are made of plastic, and some are lined with foam. They are designed to push against the curve and straighten the spine. The spine is actually straighter when the brace is worn, but once the brace is taken off, the spine normally relaxes into its original shape.
Bracing should not hurt. At first, it can be a little uncomfortable. However, after a couple of weeks, the discomfort should go away, and bracing becomes a part of everyday life. In order to be effective, scoliosis braces must be worn tightly and for many hours every day. Each doctor has a different protocol, but an average recommendation is to wear the brace for about 18-20 hours per day.
Be understanding of the scoliosis kids and teens around you! It’s all too common that young people with scoliosis feel isolated from their friends and family because of their scoliosis. Learning about scoliosis and realizing that it can be a difficult thing to go through is the first step to helping those with scoliosis!
Scolios-us is a web-based platform intended to empower scoliosis patients with the tools and resources they need to be successful brace wearers.
bracingforscoliosus.org
Curvy Girls is a network of peer-led support groups that reduce the emotional impact of scoliosis by empowering girls through mutual support and acceptance to become leaders, make healthy lifestyle choices, and improve self-esteem. curvygirlsscoliosis.com
Braced was inspired by author Alyson Gerber’s own scoliosis journey and experiences with bracing.
alysongerber.com/books
Megan Glahn is a born and raised New Orleanian. She is a graduate of Mount Carmel Academy and Louisiana State University. She earned her Master of Science degree in orthotics and prosthetics from Baylor College of Medicine. While in school, she discovered a passion for scoliosis and has since specialized in scoliosis bracing. She currently works as an orthotist in Dallas, Texas, and is the founder of Scolios-us.
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