We were lucky to catch up with Clayton Stitzel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Clayton, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When you’ve been a professional in an industry for long enough, you’ll experience moments when the entire field takes a U-Turn, an instance where the consensus completely flips upside down or where the “best practices” completely change. If you’ve experienced such a U-Turn over the course of your professional career, we’d love to hear about it.
Genetic variant testing has pulled by the curtain on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis providing insights as to what is really going on beyond what we can see on x-ray.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
As a leader amongst scoliosis specialists in Pennsylvania, Dr. Stitzel is regarded as one of the foremost experts on scoliosis exercise-based treatments. A native to Pennsylvania, Dr. Clayton Stitzel knew from early on that he wanted to serve those with scoliosis in Pennsylvania. To achieve this goal, Dr. Stitzel attended Penn State University where he received his bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Kinesiology before attending the Palmer College of Chiropractic where he received a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine. Dr. Clayton Stitzel was inducted into Palmer College’s research fraternity where he also received research honors. He is also a national and international lecturer on non-invasive scoliosis treatment and co-developed the scoliosis traction chair.
Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology, Penn State University
Clinical Doctorate, Palmer College of Chiropractic
Full member, Chi Rho Theta research society
Fellow, International Chiropractic Scoliosis Board (ICSB)
Certified, ScoliSMART™ Activity Suit
Certified, Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA)
Author of numerous peer-reviewed journal publications
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has traditionally been viewed as only a spinal condition, but breakthroughs in genetic variant testing now high suggests the condition is primarily a neurotransmitter and hormone problem, rooted in a genetic predisposition, that creates a spinal curvature as the obvious and visible symptom.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2017, my organization, ScoliSMART Clinics, published our first peer reviewed success rate study with a jaw dropping 93% of our patients not reaching surgical threshold. However, the question of why 7% of our patients didn’t respond to treatment lead us towards seeking a better genetic understanding of the condition.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://treatingscoliosis.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ScoliSMART/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TreatingScoliosis/
- Twitter: Https://www.Twitter.com/Scolismart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ScoliSMART
Image Credits
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