Life Beyond the Curve: Recent Episodes
CLEAR Scoliosis Institute
Life Beyond the Curve is a podcast dedicated to providing essential support to people affected by scoliosis. Each week we interview experts in the industry, answer your pressing questions, and empower you to take control of your scoliosis diagnosis and live life to its fullest.
In Episode 34, host Heather Rotunda and Dr. J discuss scoliosis exercises and what you should do and avoid.
Throughout the episode, you'll hear:
- The difference between proactive and traditional treatment
- Why scoliosis specific exercises are beneficial
- The similarities and differences between CLEAR and other exercise programs
- What, if any, activities should be avoided
We hope you enjoy the show!
For more information, visit clear-insitute.org.
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In Episode 33, host Heather Rotunda and Dr. Justin discuss what scoliosis and scoliosis pain feel like.
Throughout the episode, you'll hear:
- What symptoms parents should look for in children
- Whether you should wait until after puberty to begin treatment
- What symptoms to look for in adults
- What goes on with the nervous system and scoliosis
We hope you enjoy the show!
For more information, visit clear-insitute.org.
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In Episode 32, host Heather Rotunda and Dr. Justin discuss what scoliosis and scoliosis pain feel like.
Throughout the episode, you'll hear:
- What dextroscoliosis means
- Whether it has a known cause
- What symptoms can develop is scoliosis is left untreated
- What the treatment process looks like
We hope you enjoy the show!
For more information, visit clear-insitute.org.
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In Episode 31, host Heather Rotunda and Dr. Justin discuss what scoliosis and scoliosis pain feel like.
Throughout the episode, you'll hear:
- Whether scoliosis severity correlates to pain levels
- How patients have described what scoliosis feels like
- What kind of pain scoliosis can cause
We hope you enjoy the show!
For more information, visit clear-insitute.org.
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In Episode 27, host Heather Rotunda and Dr. Justin discuss how to prevent scoliosis from getting worse.
Throughout the episode, you'll hear:
- Whether scoliosis always gets worse
- What the main trigger for progression is
- How CLEAR treatment differs from the traditional treatment approach
- Whether it's ever too late for CLEAR treatment
We hope you enjoy the show!
For more information, visit clear-insitute.org.
To connect with Dr. Justin directly, visit Clear Life Scoliosis Reduction and Chiropractic.
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In Episode 26, host Heather Rotunda and Dr. Alex discuss early signs of scoliosis, its symptoms, and treatment.
Throughout the episode, you'll hear:
- The different categories of scoliosis based on age
- Symptoms and signs to watch for
- Why early detection is so important
- Whether it's ever too late for treatment
We hope you enjoy the show!
For more information, visit clear-insitute.org.
To connect with Dr. Alex directly, visit South Florida Scoliosis Center.
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In Episode 24, host Heather Rotunda and Dr. Mark discuss lumbar scoliosis, its symptoms, and treatment.
Throughout the episode, you'll hear:
- What lumbar scoliosis is
- What are the symptoms and signs of lumbar scoliosis
- Why hydration is important
- What lumbar scoliosis treatment includes
We hope you enjoy the show!
For more information, visit clear-insitute.org.
To connect with Dr. Mark directly, visit Wheaton Family Chiropractic.
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In Episode 24, host Heather Rotunda and Dr. Justin discuss mild scoliosis, its symptoms, and treatment.
Throughout the episode, you'll hear:
- What scoliosis is
- Why classification is important
- What are the symptoms and signs of scoliosis
- What you should do if you have scoliosis
We hope you enjoy the show!
For more information, visit clear-insitute.org.
To connect with Dr. Justin directly, visit Clear Life Scoliosis Reduction and Chiropractic.
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Throughout Episode 23, Ashley Brewer and Dr. Alex meet to discuss lower back pain and how it relates to scoliosis. Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons employees miss work, so it definitely deserves it's own episode.
During Ashley's conversation with Dr. Alex you'll hear:
- What are some of the common causes of lower back pain.
- What can be done in an attempt to avoid lower back pain.
- How to find answers about the cause of your low back pain.
- How lower back pain relates to scoliosis.
We hope you'll tune in and enjoy the show!
For more information visit clear-institute.org.
To connect with Dr. Alex directly, visit South Florida Scoliosis Center.
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In Episode 22, Ashley Brewer meets with Dr. Andrew Strauss to answer the question what are the best exercise programs for scoliosis? Whether you are looking for scoliosis-specific exercises that will help stabilize your spine or looking for physical activity that you can do if you're living with scoliosis, this episode will answer your questions.
Throughout the show Dr. Andrew and Ashley discuss:
- The different scoliosis-specific exercise programs that are available.
- Why yoga for scoliosis is helpful but not a complete solution.
- Why an exercise program must be coupled with a complete treatment program for maximum results.
- How scoliosis-specific exercise programs, when coupled with a treatment program, can help reduce scoliosis.
- What types of exercise and physical activity are best for individuals living with scoliosis.
We hope you'll tune in and enjoy the show!
For more information visit clear-institute.org.
To connect with Dr. Andrew directly visit Hudson Valley Scoliosis Correction Center.
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In Episode 21 CLEAR-certified Dr. Alex Greaux and host Ashley Brewer venture a bit outside of the realm of scoliosis to answer the question - should I see a chiropractor?
Throughout their discussion you'll hear:
- Why most people associate chiropractic with headaches, neck pain, and back pain.
- The additional benefits to seeing a chiropractor.
- Why some patients receive relief from ailments they didn't even know chiropractic could help with, such as insomnia.
- Some of Dr. Alex's favorite patient testimonies over the years.
- The science behind how chiropractic helps the body heal and function.
Whether you're someone living with scoliosis or not, make sure you tune in to Episode 21.
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Dr. Andrew Strauss has been actively engaged in scoliosis treatment for over 27 years. As the author of The Truth About Adult Scoliosis, Dr. Andrew is an excellent co-host for the topic of adult scoliosis bracing.
Throughout his discussion with Life Beyond the Curve Host Ashley Brewer, you'll learn:
- Why adult scoliosis bracing is different than adolescent scoliosis bracing.
- Whether or not adults can achieve correction with the use of a brace.
- How many hours per day the typical adult should wear a scoliosis brace.
- Whether or not most adults sleep in an adult scoliosis brace.
- About some of the results Dr. Andrew achieves with his adult patients at Hudson Valley Scoliosis Correction Center.
If you're living with adult scoliosis or you know someone who is, we hope you'll tune in and enjoy the show!
For more information visit clear-institute.org.
Article referenced by Dr. Andrew during the show: Effects of Bracing in Adults with Scoliosis: A Retrospective Study.
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Join Life Beyond the Curve Host Ashley Brewer and CLEAR-certified Dr. Dio Kim for Episode 19 as they discuss scoliosis risk factors. By tuning in you'll hear:
- All about the different levels of severity of scoliosis.
- Why progression is a major consideration and scoliosis risk factor.
- Some of the scoliosis risk factors associated with severe scoliosis including lung impairment.
- How balance and proprioception can be affected by scoliosis.
- Why the emotional impact of scoliosis should always be considered.
Enjoy the show!
For more information visit clear-institute.org.
Support the show (https://clear-institute.org/get-involved/donate/)
CLEAR-certified Dr. J Hartley and Life Beyond the Curve Host, Ashley Brewer, tackle the topic of how to deal with adult degenerative scoliosis in Episode 18. Throughout their discussion you'll hear:
- The definition of adult degenerative scoliosis
- Symptoms associated with adult degenerative scoliosis
- How these symptoms differ from individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
- Three important goals when it comes to treating adult degenerative scoliosis
You'll also hear Dr. Harley's latest in-clinic results with patients who have adult degenerative scoliosis. Enjoy the show!
For more information visit clear-institute.org.
Support the show (https://clear-institute.org/get-involved/donate/)
Throughout Episode 17, Dr. Andrew Strauss and host Ashley Brewer discuss the topic of treatment for adult scoliosis. Dr. Andrew has been actively engaged in scoliosis treatment for 37 years, so he is an excellent host for this topic.
Throughout the discussion between Ashley and Dr. Strauss you'll hear:
- About the two different types of adult scoliosis - adolescent scoliosis in the adult and adult degenerative scoliosis.
- What the traditional treatment approach typically looks like for someone with adult scoliosis.
- How the CLEAR approach takes a noninvasive, yet effective approach when it comes to treatment for adult scoliosis.
- Whether or not the treatment goals for a patient change based on their age.
Since Episode 17 is specifically geared towards treatment for adult scoliosis, if you're an adult living with scoliosis, we hope you'll tune in and enjoy the show!
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During Episode 16, host Ashley Brewer and CLEAR-certified Dr. J Hartley go back to the basics to discuss what does scoliosis mean? If you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with scoliosis, this is a great place to start. You'll learn:
- The true definition of scoliosis
- Different levels of severity for scoliosis
- Early warning signs of scoliosis
- How scoliosis is a progressive condition of the spine
- What to do if you suspect you have scoliosis
As someone who was diagnosed with scoliosis as a teenager, Dr. Hartley is an excellent host for Episode 16. Enjoy the show!
For more information visit clear-institute.org.
Support the show (https://clear-institute.org/get-involved/donate/)
In Episode 15, Dr. Alex Greaux from Miami, Florida and Life Beyond the Curve host Ashley Brewer meet to discuss the topic of scoliosis treatment at home. As someone who has been in the field of scoliosis-specific chiropractic since 2007, Dr. Alex is a great person to talk about scoliosis and a noninvasive approach to treating scoliosis.
The discussion Dr. Alex has with Ashley includes recommendations for people with scoliosis and people without scoliosis. Their discussion includes:
- Why scoliosis treatment at home without the guidance of a professional is not a good idea.
- The importance of being mindful of posture whether you do or do not have scoliosis.
- The type of results his patients see, in part because of their customized home exercise program.
- What to do if you or someone you know suspects you have scoliosis.
- How to find a scoliosis provider.
As always, Dr. Alex's passion comes through the conversation. We hope you enjoy the show!
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Dr. Alex Greaux has been in chiropractic for more than 15 years and has been treating scoliosis since 2007. His advanced training and certification in scoliosis-specific chiropractic make him an excellent host for Episode 14 Structural vs Nonstructural Scoliosis.
Throughout Episode 14, episode host Ashley Brewer and Dr. Alex discuss:
- The true definition of scoliosis
- Why scoliosis is a complex and confusing spinal condition
- The difference between structural scoliosis or nonstructural scoliosis, often referred to as functional scoliosis
- Common signs of scoliosis
- What to do if you suspect you have scoliosis
- Why finding a provider with scoliosis-specific experience is imperative to a patient's success
Scoliosis is a complex and confusing condition, but Dr. Alex's experience and expertise really shine throughout this episode. If you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with scoliosis, make sure you tune in.
For more information about CLEAR Scoliosis Institute visit clear-institute.org.
To learn more about Dr. Alex and his clinic, South Florida Scoliosis Center, visit southfloridascoliosiscenter.com.
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Throughout episode 13 we focus on the mild scoliosis x-ray. CLEAR-certified Dr. Dio Kim from Tustin, CA joins Executive Director, Ashley Brewer, for this week's show. Throughout the episode they discuss:
- The importance of early detection when it comes to scoliosis
- Signs of mild scoliosis
- How to measure a Cobb angle on the mild scoliosis x-ray
- How growth is a major contributing factor for progression
- Why two sisters received different results
We hope you enjoy the show!
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Dr. Andrew Strauss Is our co-host for episode 12 of Life Beyond the Curve, Yoga for Scoliosis. As a life-long practitioner of yoga and a CLEAR-certified chiropractor, Dr. Andrew Is the perfect co-host for this topic.
Throughout episode 12, Dr. Andrew and Ashley Brewer, the Executive Director of CLEAR Scoliosis Institute, discuss:
- The Importance of knowing your scoliosis pattern
- Why you should work with a professional when practicing yoga for scoliosis
- How self-awareness is one of the keys to success when it comes to practicing yoga for scoliosis
- The do's and don'ts of yoga when you have scoliosis
If you love yoga and you have scoliosis, this is the episode for you. If you're looking for methods of pain relief and curve management, consider tuning in. Enjoy the show!
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Dr. Mark Myers' article on C5 C6 Disc Bulging: All You Need to Know is one of the most frequently visited articles on the CLEAR website. Because of this, we decided to have a podcast episode solely dedicated to C5 C6 disc bulging.
Throughout episode 11, CLEAR's Executive Director, Ashley Brewer, and Dr. Mark Myers discuss a variety of topics Including:
- The difference between a bulging disc and herniated disc.
- The symptoms of C5 C6 disc bulging.
- Who may experience C5 C6 disc bulging.
- How you can control inflammation in your body.
- Why you should drink half of your body weight in ounces of water a day.
- Why motion is extremely important for the spine.
- Why disc issues will only continue to get worse over time.
- A proactive approach to take if you have scoliosis and are suffering from a bulging or herniated disc.
- How the CLEAR approach to treating scoliosis helps patients get function back.
Needless to say, episode 11 covers a lot in a short amount of time. We hope you'll tune in and enjoy the show!
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CLEAR Scoliosis Institute board member Dr. Alex Greaux and Ashley Brewer discuss the tough topic of neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) during episode 10 of Life Beyond the Curve. In his 15 plus years of chiropractic and 13 years of scoliosis-specific chiropractic care, Dr. Alex has seen many patients with neuromuscular scoliosis.
Throughout episode 10 Dr. Alex and Ashley discuss:
- How neuromuscular scoliosis differs from the most common form of scoliosis, idiopathic scoliosis.
- What is neuromuscular scoliosis?
- The underlying conditions associated with neuromuscular scoliosis.
- The emotional aspect of neuromuscular scoliosis.
- How to find a doctor to treat neuromuscular scoliosis.
Neuromuscular scoliosis is one of the most complicated spinal conditions a patient can have. We hope you'll tune in to episode 10 to hear Dr. Alex share what makes it complicated, the importance of a patient-centered approach to treatment, and questions to ask a doctor you are considering going to for NMS treatment.
For more information or to find a doctor, visit clear-institute.org.
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During Episode 9, co-host Dr. Dio Kim and Executive Director Ashley Brewer discuss the question, is chiropractic good for you? The topic comes back full circle to scoliosis because the CLEAR approach is a chiropractic specific approach.
Dr. Dio Kim from Tustin, CA has been CLEAR-certified since 2011. He also specializes in sports and pediatric chiropractic. Throughout the episode you'll learn a bit more about Dr. Dio Kim ad he and Ashley discuss:
- What drew Dr. Dio Kim to the profession of chiropractic.
- Testimonies of chiropractic patients from Dr. Dio Kim's office.
- Is chiropractic good for you?
- The positive effects of receiving chiropractic care.
- Why most patients say, 'I wish I would have tried chiropractic sooner.'
Tune in to this personal episode to learn more about the benefits of receiving chiropractic care and how CLEAR's chiropractic-specific approach to treating scoliosis has benefitted many patients around the globe.
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Life Beyond the Curve Episode 8 will answer the question what is a scoliosis curvature? Dr. Tony Nalda has been seeing scoliosis patients for over 14 years with curves ranging from 10 degrees to 155 degrees, so there couldn't be a better co-host to answer this question.
Throughout the episode, he'll discuss:
- The different between a posture problem and a true scoliosis.
- How scoliosis is classified.
- Various locations of scoliosis within the spine.
- How the spine compensates when there is a scoliosis curve present.
- What to do If you suspect you have scoliosis.
If you have questions about what it means to have scoliosis, how scoliosis is classified, or were recently diagnosed and simply want to know more about scoliosis, this is the episode for your. We hope you enjoy the show!
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Throughout episode 7, scoliosis and sciatica, CLEAR-certified Dr. J Hartley answers common questions and shares his experience with treating scoliosis and sciatica.
Questions and topics discussed during the episode include:
- What is sciatica and what are the associated symptoms?
- What is the relationship between scoliosis and sciatica?
- Does everyone with scoliosis experience sciatica?
- Common treatment methods for sciatica.
- Misconceptions about the pain associated with sciatica.
- What to do if you have scoliosis and experience sciatica.
Scoliosis, in and of itself, is a complex and confusing condition. When you add the pain associated with sciatica on top of an already complex condition, it can be frustrating, aggravating, and uncomfortable. If you find yourself struggling with this, know that there are steps you can take to proactively treat the cause of your sciatica and treat your scoliosis at the same time.
We hope you'll tune in to learn more. Enjoy the show!
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Dr. Tony Nalda's practice, Scoliosis Reduction Center, is cutting-edge when it comes to the role of exercise and physical therapy in scoliosis treatment. This made him an excellent co-host for episode 6 of Life Beyond the Curve.While Dr. Nalda is a chiropractor, not a physical therapist, he has over 20 years of experience working with the biomechanics of the spine, treating patients, and practicing a variety of scoliosis-specific treatment methods.
The innovations he has helped develop in the customized CLEAR home exercise program have helped thousands of scoliosis patients world-wide. Throughout episode 6, Dr. Nalda discusses:
- Why traditional physical therapy treatment for scoliosis patients falls short.
- How active and passive rehabilitation in the CLEAR approach to treating scoliosis help stabilize the spine and reduce the curve.
- Why the custom home exercise program works best when coupled with in-office care and rehabilitation.
- How he motivates his teenage patients to stay on track with their care.
- Why timing is everything when it comes to scoliosis treatment.
Don't miss your opportunity to learn more about the role of exercise and physical therapy in scoliosis treatment. Enjoy the show!
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Dr. Tony Nalda, Chairman of the CLEAR Board of Directors and elite of the elite when it comes to treating scoliosis, is our co-host for episode 5, Scoliosis In Children. When a child is diagnosed with scoliosis, treatment needs to be taken very seriously because treating children with scoliosis is where we can make the biggest impact in terms of long-term improvement.
For parents, having a child diagnosed with scoliosis can be scary. Parents may have many questions running through their mind after receiving such a diagnosis. Throughout episode 5, Dr. Tony Nalda answers many frequently asked questions and discusses:
- Common ages in which children may be diagnosed with scoliosis - infantile scoliosis, juvenile scoliosis, and adolescent scoliosis.
- Why phases of growth put a child with scoliosis at risk for progression.
- The traditional approach to treating scoliosis in children.
- His chiropractic-specific functional approach to treating scoliosis in children.
- A few of many success stories from his clinic, Scoliosis Reduction Center.
The biggest piece of advice Dr. Nalda has for parents is don't watch and wait! Learn more about CLEAR Scoliosis Institute's alternative approach to treating scoliosis by tuning in to episode 5, Scoliosis In Children. Enjoy the show!
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Our co-host for episode 4, How Much Does Scoliosis Surgery Cost, draws from his life experience. Dr. Mark Myers saw his sister go through her own scoliosis diagnosis and journey. The emotion he saw from her when she thought she might be facing scoliosis surgery eventually led him to become a CLEAR-certified chiropractor.
The possibility of facing scoliosis surgery is something that weighs heavily on the minds of patients and family members who have a scoliosis diagnosis. Questions like, how much does scoliosis surgery cost, float through their mind. Throughout episode 4, Dr. Mark Myers discusses:
- The financial cost of scoliosis surgery
- How even with insurance, there is a significant out of pocket cost
- The physical cost and side effects of surgery
- The emotional toll that facing a scoliosis surgery has on someone
- How most patients who visit Dr. Myers wish they had known about alternative options sooner
Surgery is a huge decision that you can't take lightly because you can't turn back the clock. By listening, we hope you'll discover that you don't need to take a back seat when it comes to your health or the health of your child. Being proactive is the key to success. Enjoy the show!
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Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form of scoliosis. Classifying a case as idiopathic means the cause is unknown. Throughout episode 3 of Life Beyond the Curve, our co-host Dr. J Hartley discusses:
- Three theories about possible triggers for AIS - hormones, upper cervical instability, and family history.
- The traditional methods for treating AIS.
- The CLEAR approach to treating AIS.
- Whether or not it is common for people with AIS to have symptoms.
- How to incorporate home care exercises into your daily life.
- Activities that could accentuate the progression of AIS.
Our co-host for episode 3 is able to speak from personal experience because he is no stranger to scoliosis. He has scoliosis, his mother has scoliosis, and he has two daughters who have scoliosis. By sharing from experience, it is our hope that Dr. J Hartley will provide you with the motivation to make a positive change in your life. We hope you'll enjoy the show!
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Dr. Dennis Woggon founded CLEAR Scoliosis Institute in 2000. Since then, he has dedicated much of his life to researching alternative scoliosis treatment. He's not only well-known for his groundbreaking work In the realm of scoliosis, he's also the Inventor of the Vibe Whole Body Vibration Platform.
Throughout this episode Dr. Woggon answers the question is scoliosis genetic? He discusses the research and the science behind scoliosis, why the ScoliScore genetic test for scoliosis didn't work, walks through how researchers have had many theories about scoliosis being genetic but they haven't been able to reproduce results, and discusses what It means when we say scoliosis is familial.
With his many years of research, Dr. Woggon Is an excellent person to hear from on this topic. We hope you'll tune in and enjoy the show!
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CLEAR-certified chiropractor, Dr. J Hartley, has a unique story because in addition to treating scoliosis, he also has scoliosis. He was diagnosed as a teenager and upon diagnosis he was told to simply watch and wait or pursue surgery. Given these two options, he decided to wait. It wasn’t until years later when his own daughter faced progressive scoliosis that he found CLEAR Scoliosis Institute.
During our very first episode of Life Beyond the Curve, Dr. Hartley shares his story and discusses the frequently asked question, should I use a back brace for scoliosis pain? As someone who was recently fitted for a corrective scoliosis brace, Dr. Hartley has a lot to share on this topic. We hope you'll tune in and enjoy the show!
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CLEAR Scoliosis Institute is a nonprofit organization committed to providing essential support to people affected by scoliosis. That's where the whole idea behind this podcast came from.
The goal of Life Beyond the Curve is to give you practical tips and tangible action steps that you can begin to implement to improve your life and your confidence. We’ll explore topics such as bracing, the psychological side effects of scoliosis, how to be confident with your curve, is scoliosis genetic, scoliosis surgery side effects, and much much more! Each week we’ll hear from a CLEAR-certified doctor whose primary goal is to help support you in living your to its fullest.
Whether you’re an existing CLEAR patient, have recently been diagnosed with scoliosis, have questions that need answers, or are just interested in learning more about scoliosis, we hope you’ll join us each week on Life Beyond the Curve as we interview experts in the industry, answer your pressing questions, and empower you to take control of your scoliosis diagnosis.
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