National Scoliosis Awareness Month

June 2009

A Proclamation by Congresswoman Allyson Y. Schwartz

WHEREAS, we must increase the public’s awareness of scoliosis and help children, parents, adults, and health care providers understand and recognize the complexities of spinal deformities such as scoliosis;

WHEREAS, scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine which affects 2-3% of the population, or an estimated 7 million people in the United States. Scoliosis impacts people of all ages, regardless of race or socio-economic status, and there is no cure.

WHEREAS, scoliosis is common in children with a variety of congenital and neuromuscular diseases, but it is most prevalent in seemingly healthy children, with no known cause (idiopathic). The primary age of onset for scoliosis is 10-15 years of age, occurring equally among both genders, but with females five to eight times more likely to progress to a curve magnitude that requires treatment.

WHEREAS, approximately one out of every six children diagnosed with scoliosis will have a curve that progresses to a degree that requires active treatment. Annually an estimated one million patients diagnosed with scoliosis utilize health care resources. The total hospital charges, excluding professional fees and non-covered charges, for all patients released from the hospital with an idiopathic scoliosis diagnosis exceeds $2.7 billion.

WHEREAS, scoliosis can impact a person’s quality of life with limited activity, pain, reduced respiratory function, or diminished self esteem;

WHEREAS, screening programs allow for the early detection and treatment that may alleviate the worst effects of scoliosis;

WHEREAS, we observe National Scoliosis Awareness Month in order to renew our commitment to raise awareness of the societal and economic Burdens of Musculoskeletal Diseases such as scoliosis, and the need for increased research funding to reduce the pain and suffering it causes.

THEREFORE, I, Allyson Y Schwartz, Congresswoman, do hereby recognize June 2009 as National Scoliosis Awareness Month. I invite the President, the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join me along with the Scoliosis Research Society and the National Scoliosis Foundation in recognizing and reaffirming our commitment to increase awareness of scoliosis.

Member of Congress