National Scoliosis Foundation NSF

National Scoliosis Foundation

5 Cabot Place
Stoughton, MA 02072.

Tel: 800-673-6922
Fax: 781-341-8333

nsf@scoliosis.org.

The National Scoliosis Foundation (NSF) is a patient-led nonprofit organization dedicated since 1976 to helping children, parents, adults, and health-care providers to understand the complexities of spinal deformities such as scoliosis.

Severe scoliosis impacts the quality of life, putting pressure on the heart, diminishing lung capacity, and limiting physical activity. Thankfully, through early detection and treatment advances, the worst effects of scoliosis may be prevented.

We are involved in all aspects of scoliosis support, whether the issue is early detection through screening programs, treatment methods, pain management, or patient care. Our focus is on promoting public awareness, providing reliable information, fostering ongoing research in the field, and educating and nurturing the community of those affected by scoliosis.

Scoliosis affects 2-3% of the population, or an estimated 6 million people in the United States, and there is no cure.

Scoliosis impacts infants, adolescents, and adults worldwide with little regard to race or socio-economic status. The primary age of onset for scoliosis is 10-15 years old, occurring equally among both genders. However, females are eight times more likely to progress to a curve magnitude that requires treatment. Scoliosis can impact the quality of life with limited activity, pain, reduced respiratory function, or diminished self-esteem. The vast majority of people with this condition are not expected to require treatment. The problem is we do not know who will get it, why they get it, which will progress, or how far they will progress. Each year scoliosis patients make more than 600,000 visits to private physician offices, and an estimated 30,000 children are put into a brace for scoliosis, while 38,000 patients undergo spinal fusion surgery.

Despite physicians trying to treat this spinal deformity for centuries, 85% of the cases are classified as idiopathic. Consequently, a scoliosis patient's life is exacerbated by many unknowns, and treatments therefore that are often ineffective, invasive, and/or costly. Scoliosis patients also have increased health risks due to frequent x-ray exposure.Scoliosis is a multifactorial disorder, which requires multidisciplinary research and treatment.

You are not alone in your journey of living with scoliosis. There are many common issues facing every scoliosis patient, yet your personal story and experience with this spinal deformity is unique. Consequently, we believe that Information and Support is essential to make the informed healthcare decisions that must be made along the way, but we also recognize and respect each person's individual needs.