SEO Quotes From Specialists in Search Marketing

Not all information found online is created equal and it's easy to get pushed and pulled in the wrong direction. To help you cut through all the clutter, I scoured the internet and found the top 10 timeless SEO quotes to guide your strategy. Even if Google unleashes an update tomorrow, these quotes will still hold true.

One of the best things about the internet is instant access to just about any information you need. When researching search engine optimization (SEO), this is especially true.

Enjoy!

Using SEO tricks or hacks is like trying to beat the house in Vegas. Sure, you might get a couple of quick wins, but in the long run you're bound to lose because "the house always wins."

In other words, SEO is an asset. It's like buying real estate and investing to remodel your kitchen and bath. That work will increase the value of your home so that you can sell it in the future for a profit.

Good SEO work only gets better over time.-- Jill Whalen (@jillwhalen), WhatDidYouDoWithJill.com

-- Dave Naylor (@DaveNaylor), Bronco.co.UK Managing Director

You're ignoring the most important part of SEO-- your customers when you design your website for Google's search engine spider. At the end of the day, ranking # 1 in Google is completely worthless if your website is not designed properly to convert that traffic into sales and leads!

The goal of SEO is not to rank # 1. The goal is to generate leads and sales for your business.

"My rule of thumb is build a site for a user, not a spider."

Even if you're using other tactics like Radio, tv, and print, you still need an SEO strategy to ensure you're not losing customers when they turn to the internet to do more research.

"On a broad scale, I see SEO becoming a normalized marketing tactic, the same way Print, radio, and tv are traditionally thought of as marketing tactics."-- Duane Forrester, Senior Product Manager, Bing

If your prospective customers are searching in Google, Bing, and Yahoo to find your products or services, you need an SEO strategy. More and more people are using multiple channels to research products and services and search engines are often part of the mix.

This is one of my favorite SEO quotes because it's so simple, yet so true. Google's mission is to organize all the information online and present it so that the "best" is at the top of the search results.

"Google only loves you when everyone else loves you first."-- Wendy Piersall

How does Google determine what is "best"?

Google's algorithm takes into account many factors, but one of the most important signals is the number of websites that reference, or link, to the information. Each link is like a vote in that website's favor telling Google that it deserves to rank high in the search results.

One of the big misconceptions about SEO is that it's all about tricking Google to get your website to rank high.

With that in mind, the goal of SEO is to make it as easy as possible for Google to find your website (by using proper HTML code, writing relevant copy, designing for ease of use, optimizing page load speed) and then to give Google a reason to rank your website higher than all the other relevant websites (by publishing better and more robust information, getting more links, more online PR).

Again, it's important to consider Google's mission. They want to organize all the information online and present it to the searcher so that only the best websites are at the top of the results page.

Successful SEO is not about tricking Google.-- Phil Frost, Main Street ROI

Again, the goal of SEO is not to rank # 1, it's to generate sales and leads.

"Today it's not about 'get the traffic'-- it's about 'get the targeted and relevant traffic."-- Adam Audette, Chief Knowledge Officer, RKG

That means your SEO strategy starts with finding the right keywords that will ultimately drive conversions for your business. Use Google's Keywords Planner Tool to search for relevant keywords. Take it one step further to organize all the keywords you find into two categories:

buying-intent

research-intent

As you can probably guess, the buying-intent keywords are the ones where the person searching is most likely looking to make a purchase. The research-intent keywords are the ones where the searcher is most likely just doing research.

Focus your SEO efforts on the buying-intent keywords first to give you the best chance to drive sales and leads.

The sad truth with SEO is that most people will not find your website unless you're on the first search results page. Keep in mind there are only 10 spots available and likely tens of thousands or even tens of millions of other websites vying for those coveted spots.

Think about how hard it is to double the amount of visitors to your website. You'll have to invest more in SEO, advertising, social media, email marketing, and/or another marketing tactic to drive more website traffic.

Now consider the fact that you would get the same impact on your business if instead, you focused on doubling your website conversion rates.

"The best place to hide a dead body is the second page of Google search."-- Anonymous.

I'll admit, I "LOL 'd" when I first read this quote.

"It's much easier to double your business by doubling your conversion rate than by doubling your traffic."-- Jeff Eisenberg

In the past, publishing more and more content was a great tactic to expand the reach of your SEO. As you publish more articles about different topics, your website has more opportunities to rank in Google.

"Better content is outweighing more content."-- Rand Fishkin.

Due to Google's recent algorithm updates, quality outweighs quantity. Always keep this in mind and resist the urge to cut corners on quality in an attempt to publish webpages faster.

Present a stronger, more compelling offer.

Change the layout of your pages so that your offer is more easy to see.

Offer free information in exchange for an email address so you can follow up and convert over a longer time frame.

Use retargeting ads to bring prospects (that didn't convert) back to your website.

Add a lightbox popup so your offer can't be missed.

Many businesses took that tactic to the extreme and started to publish low quality articles in an attempt to scale up article production at lower costs.

(Traffic to your website) x (Conversion rate) = (leads or sales).

How can you double your conversion rate? Try some of the following ideas:.

"What gets measured gets improved."-- Peter Drucker.

This quote highlights a recent shift in SEO.

Many businesses ignore this simple truth.

Your conversion rate is the number of sales or leads you generate from your website divided by the total number of visitors. As you can see from that equation, you can either double your traffic or double your conversion rate and the result will be the same.

It's simple math...

Peter Drucker was not specifically talking about SEO in this quote, but it's an important point that deserves to make this list.

What needs to be measured in SEO?

This may come as a surprise, but tracking your rankings alone is worthless! Your rankings should of course be measured, but they tell an incomplete story.

Good SEO work only gets better over time. Successful SEO is not about tricking Google. Good SEO work only gets better over time. Successful SEO is not about tricking Google. That means your SEO strategy starts with finding the right keywords that will ultimately drive conversions for your business.

Good SEO work only gets better over time. Successful SEO is not about tricking Google.

Even more important than your rankings is your website traffic from SEO and your website conversions from SEO.

The Truth About Adult Scoliosis Progression

When we here about scoliosis we generally think about the kids we knew in high school that had to wear a brace or maybe even had to deal with fusion surgery but we don't often think about adults with scoliosis. The prevalence of adults with scoliosis is quite high, In this study, results indicate a scoliosis rate of 68% in a healthy adult population, with an average age of 70.5 years(1). So the reality is that 2/3 of the adult elderly population has scoliosis, a curve in their spine when viewed from the front of more than 10 degrees. According to this study and additional resources there is a very strong correlation of scoliosis to pain and dysfunction where about half of the adult patients did have measurable social or physical limitations. There was a significant correlation between degeneration of the spine and discs and scoliosis which most likely impacts function levels of those with scoliosis especially on a segmental basis.

When dealing with scoliosis as an adult whether you had the condition from childhood or developed it later in life it seems the major concern is progression. Most adult patients especially the 'baby boomers" are very concerned about their spinal curvature getting worse. I think we have to consider the prevalence of scoliosis differs between the adolescent populations at a 3% incidence level versus the adult population having a 20% incidence level (3). In addition to the older populations of >60 being 40% and >70 year old population at 68%. So there definitely needs to be a distinction between adolescent scoliosis patients that are now adults versus later onset scoliosis induced almost entirely via environmental interaction with an effect on the lumbar spine primarily.

There is a very detailed and respectable study that was recently done regarding progression rates with scoliosis in the adult population (2). The truth is that scoliosis does progress in adulthood. Not only does it progress but it has a somewhat predictable nature to it based on where the curve is located or type of scoliosis. Lumbar and thoracolumbar single curves progress with the highest rate approximately 1.64 degrees per year, so a 10 year span would result in a 16 degree progression, WOW! whereas double major curves have the lowest rate of progression at.82 degrees per year or 8 degrees per decade. These progression statistics were based on very specific parameters. The patients observed in this study were separated into two very distinct groups, Type a double major curves and Type B single lumbar or thoracolumbar curves.

The double major group (type A) was often diagnosed in adolescence and in this particular study started being monitored at a mean age of 24 with a mean cobb angle measurement of 37 degrees (range 22° to 52°). The single lumbar/thoracolumbar group (type B) began initial monitoring much later at a mean age of 46 with a mean cobb angle of only 20° (range 3° to 35°). The most significant difference between the two different scoliosis types was menopause. Type B single lumbar curves had a significant deterioration and progressed at a faster rate following menopause.

So when discussing whether or not scoliosis progresses in adulthood we have to make an initial distinction between the type of scoliosis that a patient has either adolescent scoliosis generally double major curves or adult onset scoliosis of the lumbar spine. If it is adult onset scoliosis of the lumbar spine then there are certain characteristics to look for and to monitor. If you are female then obviously menopause is a big component of the progression and all proactive steps available should be taken to prevent a big swing of the scoliosis in the wrong direction causing more dysfunction and pain in later years. Considering the progression is correlated and often caused by the rotation in the lumbar spine with adult onset scoliosis this needs to be a major component of the monitoring and scoliosis treatment process.

The adolescent double major has a lower progression rate and is not linked to menopausal deterioration but certainly should not be neglected based on a " it's not as bad" mentality, it still will worsen without any intervention and cause undo spinal dysfunction and pain. Interestingly the rotation in this scoliosis type appears to be secondary and a direct result of progression.

The progression of adult scoliosis is linear and therefore can be used to establish an individual prognosis and potentially generate treatment plan to accommodate each type and level of

What Is Scoliosis and How Can Scoliosis Surgery Be Avoided?

Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways shifting or misalignment of the spine that can lead to devastating health problems.

Scoliosis usually develops early in a child's life, before the teen years, and it can occur in both girls and boys. Early detection is absolutely necessary and extremely beneficial so treatment can be provided to prevent further progression of the scoliosis.The spine normally is straight when viewing from the front and it has three naturally occurring curves when viewing it from the side. However, there are times we see an 'S' shape or 'C' curvature in the spine when viewing it from the front. This is not normal. This is called a scoliosis.

The spine is made up of 24 movable bones called vertebrae. These spinal bones make up the spinal column. The main function of the spinal column is to protect what's on the inside, the spinal cord. The spinal column protects the spinal cord much like the skull protects the brain. What flows through the spinal cord? It's all the signals to and from the brain. The brain is the master organ that controls all body functions, all healing, and all repair. Therefore, for optimal health and body function, there must be no interference on the spinal cord, the main pipeline that feeds life from brain to body.

A scoliosis is a specific type of spinal misalignment that can exert pressure and tension on the spinal cord thereby minimizing the flow of life from brain to body. Not only can scoliosis lead to pain, muscle spasms, stiffness, back pain, neck pain, and headaches, but once scoliosis progresses, it can cause complications to how other organ systems function. This can lead to fatigue, lack of sleep quality, low energy, and more serious health problems like complications to the heart and lungs.

Scoliosis can be easily detected and assessed for by a qualified practitioner like a chiropractor. Chiropractors are experts in spinal analysis and correction of spinal problems called subluxations (spinal misalignments). If you suspect your child or teen to have scoliosis or if scoliosis runs in your family, consider bringing child to a chiropractor for a scoliosis screening and spinal exam.

The chiropractor will perform a thorough health consultation and spinal examination. The spinal examination will include a posture check up, a range of motion analysis, a spinal check up for vertebral subluxations (spinal misalignments), and spinal x-rays. To absolutely confirm a finding of scoliosis, x-rays are necessary.

The treatment and management of care for scoliosis by a chiropractor is completely different than that of a medical doctor or medical specialist.

The medical approach to managing and treating scoliosis is one of three approaches:

1. Wait and see. I have heard this being recommended by medical specialists when the degree of scoliosis is found to be from 10 to 25 degrees. The danger with the wait see approach is that it can allow the scoliosis to progress while you are "waiting" to "see" what happens. This is a crucial time for management and correction of scoliosis that the "wait and see" approach should be avoided.

2. Bracing. When the scoliosis is over 25 degrees and less than 40 degrees, a brace is usually recommended. A scoliosis brace is required to be worn for 23 out of 24 hours of the day. Although bracing has been know to be effective in reducing the scoliosis curvature and preventing further progression, it can be a burden for the child/teen. Often time, bracing can be avoided when the scoliosis is managed earlier. This is why early detection and management is crucial, instead of "waiting and seeing" what happens. The "wait and see" approach is what can lead to the requirement of using a brace.

3. Surgery. This is the last resort when the scoliosis curve has advanced and progressed that it poses a serious health problem. Spinal surgery is usually recommended when the scoliosis curve is over 40 degrees. Again, another effect of either "waiting and see" or not detecting the scoliosis early in a child's life. Scoliosis surgery is extremely invasive because it involves the insertion of metal rods, called Harrington rods, along the spine. Yes it will cause some correction and reduction in the scoliosis curve, but at huge risk to your child. And there is major healing time required after the surgery is completed. Further, the mobility and function of the spine will never be normal again as it is limited by metal rods.

In my opinion, everything should be done to avoid scoliosis surgery. Most parents agree with this opinion. The best approach is early screening, early detection, and early management of scoliosis. And the earlier the better.

Signs That Your Child Could Have Scoliosis

Look for:

One shoulder higher then the other.
Winging of the shoulder blade (scapula). This is where one shoulder blade is popping further out than the other.
A hump on one side of the rib cage along the spine.
Hunching of the back.
Head tilt.
This is only a general screen that you can do at home and in no way a substitute for a professional spinal examination. The presence of any one of these signs does not confirm your child has scoliosis. Only a spinal x-ray, following a complete spinal examination, will confirm a scoliosis.
A corrective care chiropractor, upon confirming the diagnosis of scoliosis, will recommend the proper course of action to manage the scoliosis, correct the spinal problems (spinal misalignments/subluxations), and help prevent further progression.

The benefits of chiropractic care for scoliosis is:

Improved posture.
Improved mobility.
Reduction in pain.
Improved function.
Reduction in muscle tension/spasm.
Eliminating the need for surgery.
Eliminating the need for drugs.
Overall improved health.
If you suspect your child to have a scoliosis, do not wait to take action and get it checked by a chiropractor. Take your child to a corrective care chiropractor as soon as possible.

Scoliosis - The Crooked Spine and You

Scoliosis and Kyphoscoliosis

Scoliosis or Kyphoscoliosis is an abnormal alignment of the spine which can be seen in most age groups. The incidence of idiopathic scoliosis of more than 10 degrees are estimated to occure in 2-3% of children younger than 16 years old, and fewer than 10% of children with curves greater than 10 degree will require treatment. For scoliosis in adolescents, it is more common in girls, and tends to progress during the child's growth spurts. Once growth stops, one can expect a curve less than 40% to also stop advancing.

An example of kyphoscoliosis which is an abnormal forward (kyphosis) alignment of the spine would be a teenagers with Scheuermann Kyphosis (round back deformity of the upper back), or the elderly with progressive degenerative changes of the lumbar spine that has resulted in a loss of normal balance and posture.

This abnormal musculoskeletal alignment of the spine has an elusive cause in teenagers thus the name Idiopathic scoliosis. In our elderly population, it is typically related to the naturally progressive degenerative (arthritic) process, while those of us who are middle age may have a blend of both processes noted above consistent with a pre-existing idiopathic scoliosis which has now started to show signs of aging.

Classification
Scoliosis is classified into a number of different categories which helps to predict patient prognosis, and treatment. These categories are based in part on the underlying disease process which may have influenced the cause, presents, or progression of the abnormal spinal curvature. The most common types of scoliosis include:

· Idiopathic Scoliosis
· Degenerative Scoliosis
· Neuromuscular Scoliosis
· Congenital Scoliosis
· Post-Traumatic Scoliosis

Treatment for Scoliosis
The treatment options available to patients with scoliosis depends on a number of factors which include but is not limited to scoliosis magnitude, the presents of active scoliosis progression, age of the patient, other symptoms such as back pain or leg pain, spine specific diagnosis such as stenosis, tumor, infections, herniated discs, degenerative arthritis, and finally the presents of other non-spine related conditions which may impact the patient's ability to undergo surgery such as cardiac, renal, or pulmonary disease. The treatment options for scoliosis are very simple and can be summarized into three basic options.

· Observation
· Bracing
· Surgery

Most patients with scoliosis can be observed and will not require surgery. Bracing is only indicated for the young skeletally immature patient who is actively growing with a high risk curve for progression. Decisions on bracing are made by your orthopedic surgeon based on your child's skeletal maturity, scoliosis magnitude, and location of the curves. The length of time in the brace will vary based on a number of parameters noted above. Bracing is not indicated in adults for the treatment of their curve but can be used for pain control for their degenerative arthropathy.

Not all surgeons who do spine work are trained to treat scoliosis and the vast majority of Scoliosis Surgeons are Orthopedic Surgeons who obtained additional training during their residency and completed a separate Orthopedic spine fellowship with particular attention on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with any of the above noted types of scoliosis.

Idiopathic Scoliosis
Previous scientific studies on idiopathic scoliosis painted a grim picture for those with scoliosis, often perpetuating the misconception that idiopathic scoliosis in children lead to disability as an adult from back pain and cardiopulmonary problems. The shortcomings of these original studies have been exposed as they often included more severe types of scoliosis (neuromuscular, congenital, etc) which carry an often more dramatic natural history and prognosis. The reality is that scoliosis in general does not predict future problems and only those rare scoliosis curves that progress if left untreated will lead to future issues. It is therefore very important that anyone who is suspected of having scoliosis be evaluated carefully by an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon. Prompt diagnosis, serial observation over a period of years, and timely treatment may prevent any future scoliosis related problems.

Degenerative Scoliosis
The major issue with https://balancecore.sg/degenerative scoliosis is the potential for progressive loss of normal posture. This can be a very disabling problem leaving the individual unable to stand up straight and maintain forward gaze (Normal horizontal line of sight), as well as a dramatic increase in oxygen and energy requirements. This increase in energy requirements by the patient increases almost on a linear basis with the larger the kyphosis magnitude. Stephen Ondra published in the Spine Journal in 2007 that patients with a 25 degree forward posture should expect a 25% increase in energy requirements and those patients with a 50 degree forward posture would see a 60% increase in energy demands just to walk and maintain normal activities of daily living. Having a forward posture like the woman demonstrated here is very disabling. Surgery for these patients will often reduce suffering and improve life style by allowing the individual to return to many activities of daily living that the rest of us take for granted. The vast majority of patients undergoing this extensive surgery to treat their degenerative kyphoscoliosis are very happy with their results.

If you or a family member has scoliosis or is suffering from other spine conditions in the setting of scoliosis, a baseline examination with radiographs is important and will be followed with serial examination to watch for progression of the scoliosis in an effort to prevent future disability. Please contact our office if you have any further questions.

Alternative Scoliosis Treatment - Promising Technologies Lead the Way

The world of scoliosis treatment is rapidly advancing (finally) due to breakthroughs in the fields of prognostic testing and early stage scoliosis intervention. Soon the days of scoliosis brace treatment and scoliosis surgery will fade into the dark ages of the past and a more preventative and a pro-active scoliosis treatment model will emerge. At the forefront of this advancement are highly sophisticated prognostic testing and innovative alternative scoliosis treatment options. The formula that seems to be a formula that is consistent with almost any disease is one that combines a person's genetics with their environment creating the cellular or even molecular maladaptation.

Genetic predisposition + Environmental Influences = Idiopathic Scoliosis

Scoliscore genetic testing: The Scoliscore test is a saliva based test that compares the patient's active genetic markers for severe scoliosis against a known profile of 53 genes. It's comparison to the know profile is 99% accurate. This means the test is able to determine with a great deal of certainty the patient's genetic predisposition for developing a severe scoliosis spine curvature. It is important to note that genetic predisposition is only one component of the idiopathic scoliosis condition which is also heavily influence by environmental influences (biomechanical, biochemical, certain activities, etc.)

Scoliosis blood test: It was announced way back in 2008 that the long awaited scoliosis blood test would be released and now in 2011 we are still waiting (oops!). Anyway, the patent for the test has been released and it appears to be a 2 phase test. One based on assumed genetic predisposition and the other on the osteopontin (OPN) levels of the patient. The OPN explanation is quite lengthy and more laborious than this discussion needs to get, but it is a major regulator of bone growth. The hold up of the test's release is unknown, but there is speculation that conflicting research from a Chinese based study and the problematic development of a CD-44 receptor (the binding receptor for OPN) blocker may be the cause for delay, but again, that is pure speculation.

Early Stage Scoliosis Intervention: I would love to tell you that there are 1000's of diligent researchers around the world working on a cure for idiopathic scoliosis, unfortunately, that's not the case. The good news is that many of the brightest and most talented researchers have found each other through the internet and professional organizations and progress on the cause of and treatment of idiopathic scoliosis is being made. Most researchers now agree that the root cause of idiopathic scoliosis is most likely neurological and more specifically, an under-development of the involuntary postural control centers in the brain stem. Armed with the deduction that idiopathic scoliosis is primarily a neurological condition that primarily affects the spine, the methodology one uses for scoliosis treatment change drastically.

The Early Stage Scoliosis Intervention program utilizes a specialized alternative scoliosis treatment protocol that decreases the soft tissue resistance or tension in the curvature regions, realigns the spine to a more symmetrical position, and finally retrains the spinal muscles to hold the new position. The soft tissue (spinal discs, ligaments, muscles, etc.) slowly begin to adapt to the abnormal spinal position, essentially "locking" the scoliosis in place. This makes it necessary to "unlock" the spinal position from the maladapted soft tissue, so the spine can be repositioned, and finally the soft tissue can be neurologically re-trained to hold the spine in the new straighter position automatically and permanently. Essentially, the brain stem is being recruited to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

The scoliosis exercise based protocol is painless, but you may experience some mild stretching sensation during the initial onset of treatment as the body adapts and heals in its newly corrected position. Some patients have reported mild muscle soreness the day after treatment. It's extremely rare that a patient is unable to complete treatment due to physical discomfort.

Doctors can alter the natural course of this condition by identifying which patients are at the highest risk for severe progression via genetic testing (scoliscore) and by implementing an aggressive, non-invasive Early Stage Scoliosis Intervention program that re-trains the brains involuntary postural controls centers before the mild scoliosis curvature reaches the degree "buckling" point commonly seen during growth spurts.

Environmental Influences in Idiopathic Scoliosis

As far as it looks right now, it looks like the environmental factors/influences of idiopathic scoliosis seem to be falling into one of three categories that all interact with each other and the genetic pre-disposition creating a multi-factorial condition. These categories include: bio-mechanical forces such as, forward head posture, hip rotation, sacral inclination and other sagittal spine distortions as well as secondary bone adaptation to asymmetrical loading (Hueter-Volkmann principle). Activity related forces include: repeated hyper-extension of the mid back (sleeping on one's stomach, ballet, competitive swimming, etc.) compression of the spinal column (horseback riding, jogging, etc.). Bio-chemical influences include: Chronic Mycobacterium infections that drive up osteopontin levels (fish tanks in the home, dirty shower heads, basically anything in the home that has water standing for long periods of time) and possible nutritional deficiencies of selenium has been noted as being significantly decrease in populations of idiopathic scoliosis patients.

The future of alternative scoliosis treatment is very promising and a select few doctors and researchers are dedicated to finding a better way to treat scoliosis without the use of bracing or highly invasive scoliosis surgery which starts with advanced diagnostic testing and innovative early stage scoliosis treatment.

Scoliosis Treatment Options

Scoliosis is a condition in which there is an abnormal lateral deviation of the spine. In layman's translation: if you look at a person from the back side, the spine has a C-shape or S-shape curve instead of the normal, vertically upright orientation.

There are two categories of scoliosis: postural scoliosis and structural scoliosis. The purpose of this article is to differentiate these two types of scoliosis, to describe the chiropractic approach to scoliosis care and lastly, to differentiate this from the medical approach. This is so that you may better understand some of the various available options for scoliosis care.

Functional / Postural Scoliosis:

A postural scoliosis is essentially an postural adaptation to an imbalance in your base of support. For example, a leg length inequality or a low arch on one side compared to the other. This will cause the pelvis to dip down on one side. Then your spine will curve as an adaptive response because all of the joints are functionally connected. This type of scoliosis is generally flexible and can be diagnosed from physical examination findings (evidence of short leg and a flexible spinal curve that unwinds with side bending of the torso). This type of scoliosis is also usually fairly straightforward to correct. Custom foot orthotics are used to correct the alignment of the feet or a heel rise is used if there is a structurally short leg. Chiropractic care may also be recommended to the postural scoliosis patient to address any muscle or joint findings and any resulting pain from years of abnormal force distribution.

Structural Scoliosis:

A structural scoliosis is a bit more complicated to deal with. There are many types of structural scoliosis. One such type is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. This is a rigid, inflexible spinal curve and for unknown reasons, the spine just grows that way. While the spine continues to grow, there is a risk that it will continue to get worse. Chiropractic management includes manual adjustments and/or mobilizations to the spine to improve flexibility, function, alignment and mechanical balance. Chiropractic care is also helpful for naturally managing pain. Exercises are also prescribed.

Proprioceptive exercises are particularly beneficial for scoliosis patients (of either type). Proprioceptive exercises are exercises that improve body position awareness. Examples include exercises on an exercise ball, rocker board, wobble board or vibration platform. Yoga and Tai Chi are also great balancing exercises. Chiropractic care combined with proprioceptive exercises help to retrain the central nervous system. Beyond this, specific corrective exercises may be prescribed which are designed to stretch the relatively tighter muscles and strengthen the relatively weaker ones. Preferably, these should be done daily. Deep breathing exercises and sleep posture awareness are also beneficial.

Risks of Scoliosis:

Just because you have scoliosis does not guarantee that you will have problems later in life. Many people carry on with their lives with no idea and a scoliosis is incidentally found later. That being said, there are some risks with scoliosis. Statistically, with greater curves there tends to be more pain and also earlier onset of arthritis due to uneven wear and tear to the joints. There is also a risk that the scoliosis may continue to progress (especially during adolescence, when the spine is still growing). With structural scoliosis, there is concern about compression of the internal organs when curves progress beyond a certain point.

Scoliosis Diagnosis:

Scoliosis is diagnosed through physical examination and/or x-ray imaging. The physical examination entails an assessment of posture, flexibility of spinal ranges of motion and orthopedic testing. Chiropractors have trained eyes for detecting posture abnormalities such as unleveling of the shoulders, pelvis, hips, knees and feet which may indicate an underlying scoliosis. If a scoliosis is detected, the second step is to determine if it is postural or structural. A postural scoliosis will unwind upon side bending of the torso. A structural scoliosis will not unwind fully upon side bending and will have a positive Adam's test (forward flexing the spine will have evidence of rib protrusion on one side). An x-ray may be ordered to evaluate the severity and objectively measure the curve. Other potential causes for scoliosis also need to be ruled out.

Conventional Medical Management of Structural Scoliosis:

The conventional medical management of structural scoliosis involves monitoring, bracing, medication and/or surgery. Medication is suggested only as a means for symptomatic relief and does nothing to solve the underlying cause (which is unknown). If the patient is still growing, progression is monitored by first a baseline x-ray and then follow-up x-rays every few months. If the curve progresses, a spinal brace is typically recommended. A brace is intended to prevent further progression but patient compliance is a challenge because spinal braces tend to be uncomfortable and awkward (especially for the self-conscious adolescent). If the scoliosis progresses beyond a certain point, the patient may be recommended spinal surgery in which a metal rod is surgically fused to the spine to straighten it out. This procedure is invasive and has many inherent risks.

Why Chiropractic Makes Sense:

In light of the other available options, chiropractic care is a logical approach for scoliosis management. Chiropractic care is hands on, non-invasive and drug-free. It attempts to correct the underlying mechanical problems in scoliosis, relieve pain naturally and empower the patient to continue appropriate home care corrective and postural awareness exercises. While there is no guarantee that chiropractic will correct a structural scoliosis, there is evidence in the literature that it can slow the progression and improve the curve in some cases. For these reasons, chiropractic care makes sense. If unsuccessful, the conventional medical management is still an option. While chiropractic care is a logical approach, it is not a quick fix. Typically a lengthy course of care is recommended, with regular progress examinations to objectively evaluate changes.

Scoliosis Treatment 101 - The Successful Management of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Understanding your child's diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis can be difficult to say the least. Approximately 4 out of every 100 children in your community will have scoliosis. The most common form of idiopathic scoliosis (no known cause) is adolescent scoliosis which makes up about 80% of those diagnosed or 3.2 of the 4. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is defined as a scoliosis of the spine that is diagnosed between the ages of 10 and 16 or before the bodies bones are done growing referred to as skeletal maturity.

Skeletal maturity is determined by a RISSER score which measures the growth plate of the hip bone. A Risser I means there is only 25% bone closure, Risser II is 50%, Risser III is 75%, and Risser IV is 100% closure and growth is slowing way down. A Risser V means complete cessation of growth. This will become more relevant in later discussions.

As a parent you have to quickly understand a few terms and concepts when dealing with a diagnosis of scoliosis. The first key concept is the progressive nature of this condition. Severe progression is likely to occur in 25% of children diagnosed with AIS (adolescent idiopathic scoliosis) so 75% of kids will likely not have a curve in their spine that worsens to a surgical level of more than 40 degrees. Of the 25% with increased risk of progression only 1% of the children in this group will be at a high risk considered 99% chance for developing a surgical level scoliosis of greater than 40 degrees.

A brief recap of the discussion so far, nobody knows what causes scoliosis, it is generally diagnosed between ages 10 and 16. 75% of the time it won't reach 40 degrees, 24% of the time it is likely it will reach 40 degrees and 1% of the time it will definitely reach 40 degrees. These statistics are referring to the natural course of the condition so in order to affect the outcome you need to do something that will alter the natural course.

The next term to familiarize yourself with is the Cobb angle which is the accepted standard measurement for a spine that is crooked or bent more than 9 degrees. The Cobb angle is measured in degrees and is a very simplistic way to get a feel for the severity of curvature. There are much more sophisticated ways of measuring scoliosis but most doctors still use this method. The number is given to you at diagnosis which can range from 10 degrees to upwards of 100 degrees depending on what satge the scoliosis is discovered. The Cobb angle will be categorized into three main groups, according to the AMA, 10-25 is early stage or mild scoliosis, 25-40 is moderate scoliosis, and a spinal curvature above 40 degrees is considered advanced progressive scoliosis. A severe scoliosis is considered by most authorities to be 60 degrees or higher. The term severe is used in reference to the potential influence of scoliosis on the pulmonary system causing a decrease in breathing capacity.

The current medical model for scoliosis treatment consists of three categories which are essentially all determined by the Cobb angle measurement. Spinal curves between 10-25 degrees are observed generally for a 6 month period before another measurement is taken via x-ray. If the scoliosis remains under the 25 degree barrier they will continue on the 6 month schedule until your child reaches skeletal maturity. Spinal curves between 25-40 degrees are prescribed a spinal orthosis for scoliosis brace treatment.

Scoliosis brace treatment involves a fitting session with an orthotist, who is a specialist in making spinal braces. The goal of this session is to create a brace that forces the spine straighter in an attempt to halt progression. The doctor will then recommend a timeframe that your child wears the brace generally everyday for 20+ hours is recommended. After a period of again 6 months an x-ray is performed to see if the scoliosis is not getting worse. If it is not getting worse the same recommendations are given regarding scoliosis brace treatment until either your child reaches skeletal maturity or the curvature gets worse. If the scoliosis continues to get worse even with scoliosis brace treatment the doctor will still recommend wearing the brace until the measurement reaches the 40 degree surgical threshold at which time a consultation occurs between you and the surgeon to explain the fusion procedure and schedule a time to ultimately perform the procedure.

Let's again recap the information so far. We don't know what causes scoliosis, it is a progressive condition and 25% children have increased risk of reaching 40 degrees. If a scoliosis curvature approaches the 25 degree barrier, scoliosis brace treatment is recommended. If the scoliosis brace doesn't work and it approaches the 40 degree level a spinal fusion surgery is performed to halt progression and make the spine straighter. The management of scoliosis is done by the orthopedic community and has been done the same way for decades. The only changes to this medical model are some different styles of braces and different surgical techniques.

Successful management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is more about making informed decisions versus following scoliosis treatment dogma. Burying your head in the sand and essentially allowing the medical industry to manage your child's scoliosis is the equivalent of letting a surgeon remove your leg without giving you a reason why. Scoliosis treatment and scoliosis prognostication has changed immensely in the past 5 years. The medical community's scoliosis treatment model has not caught up with the current understanding of what makes this condition tick. So in a sense the scoliosis treatment model continues to do the same old thing even though there are several breakthroughs in understanding its cause and cure. Not unlike a medication that remains on the market for a year even though it is known to cause kidney damage until eventually it is pulled from the shelf with little apology to all the people that now have kidney damage from using it. In this example if you were to dig a little before taking the medication you may have learned about its well known side effects and decided not to take it rather than just following doctors orders.

Understanding the statistics is the first step in proper management of scoliosis treatment. The second step is having a proper game plan that moves from least invasive to most invasive and avoids doing nothing. As a parent you have the right to make decisions and ask questions this is your child we are talking about. The first step to proper scoliosis management, understanding the statistics, is achieved by getting a scoliscore. The genetic test should be performed upon initial diagnosis to determine your child's genetic risk factor. It is a simple saliva test that is covered by insurance. The reason this is extremely important is it will allow you to quickly categorize your child into one of three risk levels, low risk, intermediate risk, or high risk of developing severe scoliosis. Once you have this test performed the second step regarding your game plan is to take a proactive position rather than a reactive position.

A proactive approach simply means start scoliosis treatment immediately. The watching and waiting mentality is not a treatment strategy it is a gambling strategy. This overwhelming complacency within the medical model regarding mild early stage scoliosis is foolish. For instance even if your child has a 15 degree scoliosis and is in the 75% low risk genetic category they still are at risk for their curvature to get worse. It most likely won't reach surgical levels of 40+ degrees but the genetic test only predicts progression to this level of curvature so a 15 degree scoliosis can with a low genetic score still progress to let say 35 degrees. A 35 degree scoliosis is at further risk of progression in adulthood and may place your child at a significant risk for developing pain and a decreased quality of life. On its way to reaching 35 degrees you will enter the 25-40 treatment zone which will unfortunately put you in the orthotist's fitting room for scoliosis brace treatment. My point here is that LOW risk doesn't mean that you can go home and forget about it because the doctor said it essentially won't progress to 40.

A truly proactive approach means that you will have to take the initiative to search for available scoliosis treatment methods for mild scoliosis. There will be a couple of different options. Scoliosis is broken down, like all diseases, into two primary factors that ultimately control the magnitude or expression of the disease, one being genetics, and the other being our environment. Since you can not change your child's DNA you have to look for the best ways to alter and reduce the environmental factors influencing the progressive nature of the condition. So for mild scoliosis where observation is generally recommended you need to have a better understanding of environmental influences on scoliosis. Most experts agree that scoliosis is not a condition involving bones, or muscles but mainly involving the nervous system with some other biochemical factors as well.

New information regarding scoliosis etiology and prognostic testing such as scoliscore and the soon to be available scoliosis blood test reveal very specific control factors that are thought to heavily influence progression. Things that have been tried but have shown not to influence these factors and therefore not alter the natural course of scoliosis are physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, electrical stimulation, and spinal bracing. Scoliosis treatment options that are thought to influence scoliosis expression involve neuromuscular reeducation techniques designed to alter the brain's control over body posture. This rehabilitation treatment affects neurological control of spinal alignment using balance boards, vibration therapy, and body weights. By altering the postural control methods early on your child has the best chance of changing imbalances from the environment that are involved in the progression of scoliosis. The other factor that may play a significant role in biochemistry of scoliosis expression is selenium deficiency. Selenium is a mineral which has been found in low levels with children with scoliosis. Selenium influences osteopontin a chemical that affects spinal growth plate activity.

To summarize this discussion and help you take control of your child's scoliosis treatment plan I would recommend the following steps be taken. Your child receives a radiographic measurement of the scoliosis curvature and a scoliscore genetic test. You then enter your child in a proactive scoliosis treatment program using neuromuscular training of posture. Your child should be tested for selenium deficiency and be place on an appropriate supplementation program if deficiency is present. In addition you need to gain a better understanding of potential biomechanical risk factors like backbends and heavy backpacks.

The key to successful scoliosis treatment management lies with avoiding status quo thinking and gaining a current understanding of what scoliosis statistical analysis using genetic predisposition is all about and those environmental factors that are most influential on the progressive nature of the scoliosis condition. Following doctors orders when it comes to scoliosis treatment recommendations will most often lead to frustration, anxiety, and poor outcomes.