Active Life is the premiere scoliosis bracing provider in Southern California!

Active Life's clinical team consists of ABC Board Certified practitioners that are trained in the assessment, treatment, design/fabrication and fitting/delivery of custom fabricated scoliosis braces.  Active Life is also the exclusive provider in Southern California for the WCR (Wood-Cheneau-Rigo) scoliosis brace in partnership with  Align Clinic.  Our clinical team is fluent in older bracing systems including the  Boston-Style  and “nighttime bending braces” such as the  Providence-Style  or  Charleston-Style. In addition to observation and physical therapy, scoliosis bracing intervention is a core non-surgical treatment option for patients with scoliosis.  We work as part of an interdisciplinary team with patients’ physicians and therapists to create a complete treatment plan for scoliosis. to be part of the scoliosis treatment protocol.  Active Life has collaborated with many esteemed pediatric hospitals and healthcare institutions throughout Southern California including UCLA, Orthopaedic Hospital, CHLA, CHOC, Loma Linda University and Rady Children’s.  

What is Scoliosis? ​

Scoliosis is a condition of side-to-side spinal curves. On an x-ray, the spine of a person with scoliosis looks more like an “S” or a “C” than a straight line. These curves can make the person’s shoulders, hips or waist appear uneven. In scoliosis, the spine’s vertebrae may also be rotated, causing one shoulder blade or trunk muscles to be more prominent than the other.  Scoliosis does not result from carrying heavy items, sports, poor posture, or minor leg length abnormalities. In fact, in more than 80 percent of scoliosis cases, a specific cause is not known. Such cases are termed  idiopathic  (meaning of undetermined cause), and they are most commonly found in adolescent girls. 

  • Infantile idiopathic scoliosis is found in children ages 0 to 3. 
  • Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis is found in in children ages 4 to 10.
  • Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is found in adolescents ages 11 to 18. 
  • Adult idiopathic scoliosis is found in patients older than 18. 

Less often scoliosis develops in those diagnosed with other conditions: 
  • Neromuscular scoliosis
  • Syndromic scoliosis
Scoliosis Research Society n.d., Scoliosis: What is Scoliosis?, accessed 17 February 2019, <https://www.srs.org/patients-and-families/conditions-and-treatments/parents/scoliosis> 

​Treatment of Scoliosis

Once the presence of scoliosis is confirmed, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you or refer you to a specialist. Treatment options may include: 

  • Routine monitoring of the curvature (and in some cases, physical therapy) as long as the curve remains minimal; 
  • Wearing a brace to try to stop the curve(s) from progressing; 
  • Surgery for patients with major curves causing discomfort or other health problems. 
Scoliosis Research Society n.d., Scoliosis: Evalution: Do I have Scoliosis?, accessed 17 February 2019, <https://www.srs.org/patients-and-families/conditions-and-treatments/parents/scoliosis> 

How Does Active Life Treat Scoliosis? ​

Our clinical team of Certified Orthotists are highly trained in the assessment, treatment, design/fabrication and fitting/delivery of custom orthotic devices.  Our clinicians review the patient’s medical history and recent radiographs or x-rays and begins a discussion of treatment options. We believe that the family and caretaker(s) are essential elements of the treatment plan. We encourage family/caretaker participation in the education of scoliosis bracing in order to improve treatment outcome for the patient. 

During the initial evaluation at an Active Life clinic our skilled clinicians will take measurements, castings, and/or digital scans which are used to acquire the dimensions and shaping of the torso and spinal curvature.  CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design & Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software and equipment is utilized in the design and manufacturing process of most of our scoliosis braces.  When fabrication is complete the patient will come in for a comprehensive fitting which usually requires “fine tuning” of the brace on the patient to optimize comfort and effectiveness.  Most of Active Life’s scoliosis bracing styles require a degree of follow up visits to maintain appropriate fit and function and we keep in communication with the prescribing physician and therapist to track correction. ​

Does My Insurance Cover Scoliosis Bracing? ​

​Most insurances have coverage provisions for scoliosis bracing related to scoliosis, but we recommend contacting your insurance plan for additional information.  Active Life is a contracted provider of Medicare, Medi-Cal, California Children’s Services (CCS) in addition to most Commercial/Private health plans such as Blue Cross, Blue Shield, United, Aetna, HealthNet and more.  Active Life also holds contracts with many IPAs and medical groups within Southern California and may be able to receive authorization from your assigned/delegated medical group.  Please contact us for additional information.

​Types of Scoliosis Bracing

The most commonly prescribed scoliosis bracing styles in the United States are typically made of some form of thin thermoplastic that covers a large portion of the torso (circumferentially and in height).  These braces will usually have a single opening, corrective padding, plastic cutouts or windows and straps to aid in correction or secure the orthosis to the body.  Most braces are worn during a combination of waking and sleeping hours, between 18-23 hours per day.   
​
While these general qualities are found in many braces, you will find a differences in the outcomes of curve progression prevention, patient comfort, ease of use, patient compliance and other important factors in the braces overall success.

Schroth Method Physical Therapy

Many physicians and patients visit qualified and experience physical therapists as part of their scoliosis program in conjunction with a brace from Active Life.

​The Schroth Method is a nonsurgical option for scoliosis treatment. It uses exercises customized for each patient to return the curved spine to a more natural position. The goal of Schroth exercises is to de-rotate, elongate and stabilize the spine in a three-dimensional plane. This is achieved through physical therapy that focuses on:
  • Restoring muscular symmetry and alignment of posture
  • Breathing into the concave side of the body
  • Teaching you to be aware of your posture
Johns Hopkins Medicine n.d., Schroth Method: Physical Therapy for Scoliosis, accessed 2 March 2019, <https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/test_procedures/orthopaedic/schroth_method_physical_therapy_scoliosis_22,schrothmethodphysicaltherapyscoliosis>

Active Life works with many great physical therapists who specialize in The Schroth Method.  Here are some recommendations for therapists by region in Southern California based on positive feedback experiences from patients, physicians and industry colleagues:

Orange County
Cynthia B. Almonte, PT
Certified Schroth Therapist
Almonte Physical Therapy & Schroth
172 N. Tustin St., Suite 304
Orange, CA  92867
cindy@almontept.com   
www.almontept.com
Tel: (714) 907-5223
http://www.almontept.com/

San Diego County
Sheila Connor, PT, CSCS,
Cert. ART Provider and Schroth Therapist
Sheila Connor Physical Therapy, Inc.
265 Santa Helena #125
Solana Beach, CA 92075
sheila@schrothsandiego.com
Tel: (619) 726-6560 ​

Dina Chalom, PT, MOMT
Certified Schroth Therapist
Chalom Physical Therapy and Wellness
San Diego, CA 92107
dina@chalompt.com
www.chalompt.com
Tel: (858) 692-8455

Los Angeles County
Masha Katz, MPT
Certified Schroth Therapist
Bright Star Physical Therapy
20501 Ventura Blvd., #380
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Tel: (818) 343-3900
http://brightstarpt.com/

​