ARISE - The Scoliosis Research Trust

There will be a heartfelt letter from the Chairperson posted on the site shortly to outline ARISE's achievements since 1986 when the Charity was first formed. (please read the story of the beginning of ARISE, below)


Miss Mehta will, of course, still try to continue to do her research work from home and publish another two medical papers, spreading her expertise throughout the world.  Miss Mehta has already visited various states in the USA, including Rochester, Philidelphia and Chicago and had been to Australia last year to promote her casting technique using POP (Plaster of Paris) Jackets.  Please visit the 'meet the team' section to find out more about Miss Mehta and her work.

How ARISE was established

ARISE - The Scoliosis Research Trust is a Charity which had its origins in 1986 when 4 British soldiers ran in the Munich Marathon and donated their sponsership monies to the Scoliosis Unit at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore. Since that time many others have organised fundraising events to raise money for the Charity. The Trust was set up due to the overwhelming support, not only from parents of young sufferers, but also from others who were only just learning of the condition and surgeons involved in treating Scoliosis suffers.

ARISE- The Scoliosis Research Trust
Graham Hill Building
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Brockley Hill
Stanmore
HA7 4LP

Telephone/Fax: 0208 9548939

Registered Charity No. 298604

info@scoliosisresearchtrust.org.uk

What is Scoliosis ?

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine which can occur at any time in a child's growing life, from birth to maturity. The spinal column curves and twists, rotating the ribcage as it does so. This causes the ribs to project backwards onto one side of the body producing a marked prominence of the shoulder blade on one side of the body and, when the lower spine is affected, the pelvic bones to tilt. Scoliosis is not a static condition but can increase (deteriorate) as the body grows.

What causes Scoliosis?

The word Scoliosis is merely a descriptive term and does not in itself explain the cause of the problem. It occurs in the following forms:

IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS - The most common type and so called because its cause is unknown and can affect any child who is otherwise completely healthy. It can strike a child in infancy or during adolescence and the years in between (termed juvenile). It usually occurs at the time when there is a rapid growth spurt.

Between three and four per cent of the school age population suffer from this form of Scoliosis. It is not possible to establish figures for pre-school children as so many of the curves remain undetected until the child's first school medical.

Infantile Scoliosis is the only type of Scoliosis where the curve can resolve itself and also where non-resolving curves respond particularly well to non-surgical treatment
if the child is seen at an early stage.

SECONDARY SCOLIOSIS - In this group of sufferers the underlying cause can be established. It either originates from a muscle weakening condition such as polio or muscular dystrophy, from a neurological condition such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or in association with a developed syndrome such as Prader Willi or another complaint such as Cystic Fibrosis. There are 100 different underlying conditions which can produce Scoliosis as a secondary complaint.

CONGENITAL SCOLIOSIS - Patients suffering from this type of Scoliosis prove to have one or more abnormal bones in the spine which have been present since birth which causes a scoliotic curve to develop.

Your Family Doctor or Consultant will be able to tell you which type of Scoliosis you or your child has developed.

How to detect Scoliosis?

In INFANTS, mothers usually first notice that their child persistently lies in a banana shape or sits leaning to one side. A prominence of the ribs may be seen or felt.

In ADOLESCENTS, a simple test is to ask the child to touch their toes (unclothed).

Any irregularities of the spine or ribcage will then be evident.

If you suspect that your child has Scoliosis, first consult your General Practitioner. If a diagnosis is confirmed, you should ask for a referral to a Specialist Unit. The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Trust where ARISE is based, also has a large Scoliosis Unit.