Dr. Hey, Mariah Cybator and Jennifer and Kalli Williams talk to WRAL anchor Michelle Mackonochie about spinal health and Kalli’s story of kindness and generosity.
October is World Spine Awareness Month. It is a time to spread awareness of spinal conditions and educate people on the treatment options available.
An estimated 80% of the population will suffer from back pain during their lives. Scoliosis, a potentially painful back condition, affects around nine million people and many of those are children.
Kalli’s Scoliosis Journey
Few things are scarier for a child than back pain, a scoliosis diagnosis, and an eventual need for surgery. That’s why Raleigh resident 11-year-old Kalli Williams, who was diagnosed with scoliosis earlier this year decided to create a fundraiser to raise awareness about scoliosis.
Kalli and her family initially decided she should try Schroth therapy, but ultimately made the decision for her to have surgery. Looking for comfort and a way to calm her fears, Kalli came across a Higgy Bear. The bear helped her so much, she wanted to share that feeling with others. So, Kalli and her mom Jennifer started a fundraiser and used the funds to purchase Higgy Bears for kids with scoliosis.
Higgy Bears are customized stuffed animals with spine braces or spinal fusions you can match with the scoliosis patient. The bears were created to comfort kids with scoliosis and help make things more “bear-able.”
Kalli is currently being seen by Hey Clinic for Scoliosis & Spine Care and decided to donate the Higgy Bears to the clinic so they can give them to other kids who are on a similar journey battling scoliosis.
Treatments for Scoliosis
Doctors used to tell parents to “watch and wait” when scoliosis was diagnosed, but now with new treatment options, parents are encouraged to “watch and treat” because EARLY DETECTION = BETTER CORRECTION.
The Hey Clinic offers some of the newest treatment options available.
- 3D CAD CAM Bracing – The 3D CAD CAM style brace is a light-weight custom brace that applies pressure to certain areas of the spine, providing better correction than other styles of bracing. Studies have shown that this particular brace can halt curve progression, help with pain and sometimes even improve curve measurements.
- Schroth Physical Therapy – Schroth Physical Therapy is a technique designed to strengthen and retrain the muscles of the back and core to hold the spine in better alignment. The goal is to elongate, de-rotate and stabilize the spine. Schroth therapy focus on muscular symmetry, rotational angular breathing and awareness of posture.
