Spine

Canadian kids’ spinal surgery waits ‘far exceed’ recommendations: report

Severe spinal curvature painful, delays can lead to more complex surgeries with longer hospitalizations. Madison West-Pettigrew smiles in this undated photo. Madison waited a year for scoliosis surgery as the curvature in her spine … READ MORE

‘They don’t care about me, mom’: Teen’s scoliosis surgery delayed five times

Nathan Gilson’s wait took a mental and physical toll on the entire family. The left photo shows Nathan Gilson’s back before scoliosis surgery, while the second photo shows his back after surgery. It took a year-and-a-half for … READ MORE

Alberta woman expected a 6-month wait for surgery. Two painful years later, she’s still waiting

‘It makes me feel insignificant,’ says woman awaiting surgery for scoliosis. Sarah MacPhail is a therapist and clinical social worker from Cold Lake, Alta. She says she has been waiting since 2020 for a spinal surgery to … READ MORE

Physiatrists offer non-surgical approach to treating muscle, joint, other conditions that impede function

Dr. Julio A. Martinez-Silvestrini is medical director of Baystate Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation that has a number of locations in the western Massachusetts area. The physiatrist, shown here at Baystate Health and Wellness … READ MORE

Our spinal cord is smarter than previously thought

Research shows our spinal cords contribute to sophisticated hand function. Using specialized robotic technology, a three degree of freedom exoskeleton at Western’s Brain and Mind Institute, researchers demonstrated that the spinal … READ MORE

It’s limitless: Paralyzed toddler moves from homemade wheelchair to treadmill

‘She’s going to take on the world and it’s awesome’ Evelyn Moore is hooked up to her dad Brad Moore as they take part in a walking exercise at the ReYu Paralysis Recovery Centre in Edmonton. The Canadian Press … READ MORE

A lower body approach to lumbar pain in pitchers

What do gators, windmills, and lawnmowers all have in common? All three are nicknames for exercises that incorporate strengthening or stretching of muscles in both the lower back and the lower extremities. And all three are examples … READ MORE

What pushing a wheelchair does to your back

When you push someone in a wheelchair, you may be hurting your back without knowing it. Researchers at The Ohio State University Spine Research Institute measured the forces on the spine caused by pushing a wheelchair, and discovered … READ MORE

Children’s backs: Trolleys do less damage than backpacks

Researchers at the University of Granada warn that 23 percent of the girls carry a load over 20 percent of their body weight in their backpack or trolley — well above what is recommended. Backpack or Suitcase? The Travel Hack … READ MORE

It’s pretty beautiful: Wheelchair whiz kid learning to walk

‘It’s been really neat to watch because we never thought we would see it.’ Evelyn Moore, an Edmonton toddler who suffered paralysis after a tumour developed on her spine, is now standing on her own two feet with the … READ MORE

A day in the life of four wheelers

Alex Ghenis, Paula Larson, Ian Jaquiss and Ellen Stohl are four very different people with disabilities — with one similarity in common: Each agreed to share a day of their lives, taking us on a tour of what do they do, where they … READ MORE

Edmonton toddler a whiz in homemade wheelchair

Just like other children learn how to crawl, Evelyn slowly figured out how to wheel. Evelyn Moore at Treehouse, an indoor playground in northeast Edmonton that she often visits with her mom. With no wheelchairs small enough for baby … READ MORE

In search of a better backrest

This past Tuesday, I rolled by my local wheelchair shop to make a small chair adjustment. I’ve recently been working with one of the staff members to rebuild my backrest in a way that would give me better posture, and I wanted one … READ MORE

Experimental scaffold hasn’t reversed her paralysis, but she’s embraced life ‘with wheels as legs’

Jesi Stracham used to captivate biotech investors and inadvertently move markets with social media posts documenting her dogged quest to get out of her wheelchair and back onto her feet. Jesi Stracham participates in an adaptive water … READ MORE

Thoraco-Lumbo-Sacral Orthosis, TLSO

A plastic body jacket used for a variety of diagnoses including post-operative protection, scoliosis, and vertebral fractures. Thoracic-Hip-Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses Consists of a spinal orthosis in addition to an HKAFO for control of … READ MORE