“Idiopathic Scoliosis can be defined as a three dimensional deformity of the spine and trunk which appears in apparently healthy children and can progress in relation to multiple factors during rapid growth and later in life”.
(Mrigos, Th Grivas, J O’Brien- Scoliosis Journal 2010)
Complex 3D Deformity of Spine and Trunk
Non-idiopathic scoliosis is managed in the same ways and behaves the same but instead has a driver of the deformity.
A Scoliosis diagnosis can be a stressful and confusing time with patients and families unsure of what the next step is. Who to contact? Where to go? and What to do? are just some of the questions that start popping up post-diagnosis. Don’t stress – we are here to help.
Contact us to discuss your options and figure out what your next steps are. We pride ourselves on supporting you and your family throughout the whole process and will happily help you plan, and make, your next move.
We are primary care practitioners meaning you do not require a referral to access our services.
PSSE stands for Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis Specific Exercise and encompasses seven schools of corrective exercise including the well known schools of Schroth, and SEAS. It is a combination of personalised exercises specific to your curvature, appropriate breathing techniques and postural re-education.
Outcomes for PSSE vary from patient to patient but may include:
Only physiotherapists are allowed to train in PSSE and schroth therapy, hence the name “Physiotherapeutic” scoliosis specific exercise. Our team is trained from the top schools in the world of scoliosis specific exercise validated via SOSORT- with all of us having BSPTS training and some with SEAS as well.
Australian university-qualified physiotherapists do not complete education in scoliosis, typically they participate in no more than 1 hour of lecturing only about how to identify scoliosis, not how to treat it conservatively. Our point of difference is that all of our physiotherapists at Perth Scoliosis Clinic have all completed scoliosis-specific training and education. They are dedicated to staying up to date on the latest scoliosis research and are constantly updating their knowledge on all things Scoliosis. We are scoliosis people and we pride ourselves on being the best in our field.
A referral is not required to make an appointment at Perth Scoliosis Clinic. If you are currently working with other medical or health professionals for management of your Scoliosis please just let us know. We love involving others in your care and working together to make you feel looked after.
Yes, We are committed to providing care and support to anyone with a scoliosis diagnosis. Please call our wonderful admin team to discuss booking an Initial Assessment. Our triage policy is always to prioritise children/teens and high risk of progression but we will see all patients.
Before your initial appointment we require a recent (within 6 months) X-Ray of your spine to ensure a management plan specific for you. Our preferred type of scan is an EOS. An EOS is a life-size 3D X-Ray of your complete skeleton in its natural standing position, it also has significantly less radiation than a regular X-Ray, only 15% of a normal spinal x-ray.
If you require an EOS please contact the clinic for a referral, typically they are bulk billed if it is the first full-spine x-ray you have had in the last 12 months.
If you have had recent imaging of your spine please inform us of when and where they were done when booking your appointment, and in some cases we can access, alternatively we will require this prior to your appointment.
With no two scoliosis patients alike it is important to be mindful that your appointments may not follow a ‘traditional’ pathway and what happens in your appointments will be up to your practitioner.
That being said, your initial appointment covers a lot of information and will include a full assessment, (measurements and postural analysis) education, and a development of a management plan- it is a lot to take on, and it is important we goal set due to the chronic nature of scoliosis.
If you have had X-Rays completed at the hospital or private radiation clinic please bring any copies you may have of the scans or reports to your initial appointment (including discs). If you have any relevant letters from medical or allied health professionals please send or request a copy be sent through to us.
During your Scoliosis appointments it is ideal for your physiotherapist to have an unobstructed view of your back and spine to complete an accurate assessment and ensure the appropriate corrections are given when doing exercises.
We recommend wearing a shirt that is easy to move in, a plain bra underneath if you usually wear a bra (one with singlet-type straps is preferred, rather than one with a racer-back or criss-cross straps that may obstruct the therapist’s view of your spine) and leggings or tighter shorts.
Appointment costs will vary depending on initial appointment or follow up and the length required. Please contact our client liaison team for more information.
Yes! If you are covered for physiotherapy we will be able to run your private health insurance at time of payment. Bring your card with you and all you will pay is the gap left over.
Forgot your card? No problem. Pay in full at the time of your appointment and we can send you an invoice to manually claim from your provider.
Please see this link for our Booking & Cancellation Policy.
It is important to remember that all Scoliosis journeys are unique and no two management plans are the same, meaning that timelines will vary according to practitioner recommendations.
Saying that a “typical” adolescent in peak growth needs 4-5 appointments close together to develop your program and then we monitor monthly. Early-Onset appointments are very dependent on curve size and can be as frequent as monthly, but are often 3-6 monthly if they are just for monitoring.
We realise that scoliosis can be a tough journey to travel on and it can be isolating if you don’t know anyone else with the same struggles in your circles – this is why we organise to host events where people can meet others walking a similar path and encourage each other on the journey together.
It’s also a great time to ask questions about scoliosis management and share ideas about how to live life to the full even when it throws you extra “curve” balls!
At Perth Scoliosis Clinic we have a strong relationship with most of the spinal surgeons in perth and do our best to help you understand the journey, prepare you prior and support you afterwards. We ensure we rehab you back to full function, and restore quality of life, which currently isn’t routine in Western Australia. We are here for you every step of the way.
Perth Scoliosis is here to help! Booking Online is the most convenient way to lock in the practitioner & time you want. Or if you have someone you would like to refer to us, we would be happy to point them in the right direction
