Now her approach is being considered for a full research study. If confirmed effective, her treatments may help even more young people with scoliosis reduce pain and decrease curvature of the spine.
Ferguson emphasizes that the study will be key to proving that the approach works in a scientific setting. If the study shows this new approach really works, it will be a revolution. While scoliosis can be caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, the cause of most scoliosis is unknown. Ferguson said that when the cause of scoliosis is unknown, it is called idiopathic.
Children with scoliosis are usually observed over time to determine if treatment is necessary, Ferguson said. A brace may be prescribed to stop the curvature from worsening; in some cases, surgery is deemed necessary. In her work, she has also been able to reduce the rip hump that can appear on one side of the spine — visible in the back of the body as the child leans forward. As she worked with children over time at her clinic, she discovered that the muscles that run at an angle to the spine develop tension that cause imbalance.
It is no wonder that the spine deviates with the muscles pulling hard on it. She works with the areas of tension to lengthen the muscles and get the rib cage moving. Her approach is to manipulate the pelvis to mobilize the rib cage and lengthen the tissue around the rib cage.
Hanging on to the muscles, she leans away and pulls firmly but gently to help the tension unwind. If she pulls too hard the muscle and surrounding tissue known as fascia will resist. It appears that in a child developing a curvature, the normal spiral becomes uncoupled and one side starts to contract, contributing to the distortion of the spine. In combination with treatment appointments, Ferguson may recommend arch supports for shoes or corrective cushions at home.
The patient might be asked to lie on a small ball so that it presses into the rib cage where it connects to the spine in order to move it into a better position each day. Another exercise is to have the child hang onto bar in a doorway. The knees are bent so that their weight helps lengthen and unwind the fascia.
Through this combination of periodic treatments and home care, Ferguson has found she can often stop the progression of the spine curvature or even reduce it. For the study, 56 children ages will be selected by Dr. She is looking for children who have a spine curvature of 15 to 30 degrees but no other known conditions. If the new treatment proves successful in the course of the study, she hope to be able to treat the 28 children in the control group after the study is done.
The University of New Mexico has approved the research proposal to test the protocol in a controlled research study. The proposal was highly ranked and forwarded to the National Institute of Health for final review and approval.
Final awards will be announced after the NIH approves the application, possibly by late November. She also hopes to video the evaluation and treatment procedures for some of the research subjects, which is also not covered by the grant. In addition to asking for individual tax-deductible donations, Ferguson will also be seeking grants from foundations. If approved, the study will begin on Dec. The treatment part of the study will wrap up within 10 months so that there are two months for analysis of the data by an independent statistician.
After the results are clear, Ferguson will be involved with writing about the study, as a way to share the approach. She hopes the study will published in a well-respected journal such as Spine so that medical professionals and others who work with spines can learn about the approach and consider ways that it might be implemented such as training interdisciplinary teams that include physical and massage therapists and chiropractors.
This is a chance for the community to support the project. My community has made this whole thing possible. We can be part of sharing a new way of treating scoliosis out into the world. We get it. You follow every Taos post on Instagram. Book was published in Released in Portuguese in Released in Russian in Adult idiopathic scoliosis: the tethered spine.
J Bodyw Mov Ther. Epub Jun Idiopathic scoliosis: the tethered spine II: post-surgical pain. Epub May Bodyw Mov Ther. Knee pain: Addressing the interrelationships between muscle and joint dysfunction in the Hip and pelvis and lower extremity. Her most recent research has led to an innovative treatment program for scoliosis in children and adolescents. In , she became the first chiropractor to receive the Janet Travell, M. She envisioned a book.
From her own work Lucy could contribute chapters on chronic hip and groin pain and shoulder problems. She contacted Robert Gerwin, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins. He agreed to co-edit the text. He would also contribute a chapter on headaches. Next she contacted other pioneering myofascial practitioners for their contributions. Once the chapters came in, disciplines ranged from chiropractic and osteopathy to medicine, physical therapy and trigger point myotherapy.
With chapters in hand, the editors organized the text by common treatment problems, including headaches, whiplash, and lower back pain. Lucy realized her vision with publication of Clinical Mastery in the Treatment of Myofascial Pain The interdisciplinary book was well-received. It has since been translated into Portuguese and Russian. As an instructor, her classes will focus on her passion: conveying diagnostic and treatment skills for working with myofascial pain.
Lucy has been applying this already. As she explains it:. Through an interactive real-time webcast pain experts —including a neurologist, internist, anesthesiologist, pharmacist, psychologist, psychiatrist, physical therapist, and myofascial experts of which I am one —offer feedback and advice to local doctors and other health care providers in outlying areas of New Mexico and in clinics and offices in other states.
Both agencies recognize that pain care for injured servicemen and women and veterans has been woefully inadequate. This class allows attendees from all over the country to receive hands-on coaching to learn the skills for the diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain.
When I teach others, the potential to relieve suffering grows exponentially. When sunset comes, we get up and run around the house to see it from every angle.
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