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Q&A with Shawn Koehler, CPO, Boston Orthotics & Prosthetics
Shawn Koehler is a certified orthotist who specializes in lower limb orthortics at the Boston O&P clinics in Annapolis, Maryland and Fairfax, Virginia. In this Q&A, Shawn shares how he was...
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Fixing Bennett’s Flat-Head Syndrome
Bennett with her Boston BandShortly after Bennett Hirsh was born she was diagnosed with plagiocephaly— flat head syndrome — commonly associated with torticollis. Babies with torticollis have a hard...
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Newfound Mobility and Possibility for Michelle
In photographs, Michelle Hak is standing tall. She has no movement in her ankles or any of her toes, but nevertheless, she’s mobile. For the first two years of her life, however, that was not the...
View ArticleTruth vs Myth: Expert Answers to Common Parent Questions About Plagiocephaly
Plagiocephaly, or “flat-head syndrome,” is a relatively common condition characterized by a flat spot on the back or side of a baby’s head. Plagiocephaly can be caused when the baby’s head frequently...
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Brachycephaly and Plagiocephaly: Why Hadley Wears a Helmet
When Hadley was born this past March, his mom Melaina Barry says his head was almost cone-shaped — a condition known as brachycephaly. “He spent quite a lot of time in the birth canal and was delivered...
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Unstoppable Chase and His Spina Bifida Journey
Two-year-old Chase in his activity chairLike many couples, Kerry Adams and her husband, Derek, eagerly began preparing for the arrival of their first child. What they didn’t prepare for was the...
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Kate’s SMA Story: What Makes Ordinary Milestones Extraordinary
Three-year-old Kate was born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disease affecting the central nervous system.Kate is by all accounts ahead of the learning curve. “She's an extremely smart...
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Life Lessons from Agnes: Be Fierce. Be Resilient. Laugh Often.
Two-year-old AggieAlthough tiny for her age, two-year-old Aggie is “fierce and full of life,” says her mom — much like Agnes Gru, the character in the movie, Despicable Me, who inspired her name.“We...
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What to Expect When You Start Your Scoliosis Bracing Journey
If you’re reading this, you or a child you know has probably been diagnosed with scoliosis, and your doctor has recommended bracing as an effective course of treatment.We know a scoliosis diagnosis is...
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Helping Eli Defy Limits with Lower Limb and Scoliosis Care
Eli Silver doesn't let severe hypotonia stop him from doing what he lovesFifteen-year-old Eli is by most accounts a typical teenage boy. He is active on his high-school wrestling team, a Boy Scout, and...
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The Importance of Custom Bracing for Scoliosis
If you have been researching bracing as a treatment for scoliosis, you’ve probably come across the terms “custom bracing,” “custom fabricated,” or “custom fitting.” So, what do these terms mean?When a...
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Catching the Curve: Caden’s Scoliosis Journey
The Kim brothers: From left, Ethan, Caden and RyanTwelve-year-old brothers, Caden and Ryan Kim, share many similar characteristics and common interests — they both love to ski, read, build models out...
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Q&A with Catherine Falcone, CPO, Boston Orthotics & Prosthetics
Catherine Falcone is a certified orthotist/prosthetist who specializes in Pediatric Orthotics and Prosthetics and Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) at the Boston O&P clinic in St. Louis,...
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Rare and Resilient: Maya’s Journey with SMA
Maya, riding her bikeAt 4 months old, Maya had not rolled over the way other babies do. Her mom, Gislane Lima, a nurse, knew something wasn’t right. Maya was referred to a neurologist. In the exam...
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Congenital Scoliosis: Caiden’s story
5-year-old Caiden was born with congenital scoliosisCaiden Portz’s smile says it all. “He’s a very kind, calm, sweet-natured kid,” says his mom, Laura. “And, he’s very resilient.”Resiliency has been...
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Q&A with Nick Grigorieff, CPO, Boston Orthotics & Prosthetics
Nick Grigorieff is a certified prosthetist orthotist who specializes in pediatric lower limb orthortics among other things at the Boston O&P clinic in Worcester, MA. In this Q&A, Nick shares...
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Toddler with Spina Bifida Working Towards First Steps
Tucker, who will turn 2 in July, was born with spina bifidaWhen Tucker’s mom, Mia, talks about her son, she is overcome with emotion. “I just love to talk about him,” she says. “He’s got an incredible...
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Two-Year-Old Addison Shows What it Means to be Resilient
Addison, wearing her AFOs, enjoys riding her tricycle, which is adapted with straps, so her feet stay on the pedals.It may come as no surprise that one of Addison’s favorite colors is pink. Pink and...
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Meet Samora, the Six-Year-Old with Spina Bifida Who’s Learning to Walk
Samora practices walking with her fire-engine red AFOs.At age 6, Samora is becoming more aware. She’ll ask, “Mommy, why don’t my toes wiggle like my sisters’ toes do?”Born with the most severe form of...
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Is My Child Too Old for Helmeting?
If your child has plagiocephaly, also known as “flat head syndrome,” you might be wondering if a cranial helmet, or cranial remolding orthosis (CRO), will be an effective treatment. The answer is, it...
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Paralympic Swimmer Nye Cruickshank: ‘I Can Be Me’
19-year-old Nye will compete in the 100-meter breaststroke at the 2001 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.Being authentic and true to herself is the foundation on which 19-year-old Nye Cruickshank has built her...
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For the Love of a Grandson: Caring for Carter
Don Douglass and his grandson, CarterDonald Douglass may have expected to be retired by now, but instead he has a fulltime job — raising his grandson. Carter, who will turn 8 in August, was born with...
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When is "Too Young" for a Baby to Helmet for Plagiocephaly?
Many babies have a flattened area of the back or side of their head. This flattening or cranial asymmetry is called plagiocephaly or “flat head syndrome.” It can be caused when the baby’s head...
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The Boston Band as a Single Helmet Solution for Plagiocephaly
If your baby has plagiocephaly or “flat-head syndrome,” a common condition characterized by a flat spot on the back or side of a baby’s head, your pediatrician may recommend an orthotic helmet to...
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Q&A with Tom Harrigan, CPO, PT Boston Orthotics & Prosthetics
Tom Harrigan is a certified prosthetist orthotist (CPO) and physical therapist (PT) who specializes in pediatric care at the Boston O&P clinic in Peabody, MA. In this Q&A, Tom shares how he got...
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Wearing a Scoliosis Brace in School: What You Need to Know
When your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis and is wearing a brace as part of the treatment process, they should be able to continue to participate in most of their regular school and...
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Lessons Learned from Baby Nicholas
Nicholas was born with hemifacial microsomia, a rare condition in which half of one side of the face is underdeveloped.There are valuable lessons to be learned from Nicholas Lipiec and the story of the...
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Q&A with Tony Gutierrez, CTPO, Boston O&P's Production Manager
Tony Gutierrez is an American Board for Certification (ABC) certified technician prosthetics orthotics (CTPO) and Boston O&P’s Production Manager working in the Avon, MA production facility. In...
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How to Tell if Your Scoliosis Brace is a Genuine Boston Brace
When you or a loved one has been diagnosed with scoliosis and your doctor has recommended bracing, you want the best scoliosis brace available. The Boston Brace, a custom-made brace for scoliosis, has...
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Owen’s Helmeting Story: Mom Notices a Rounder Head After 3 Weeks
When Andrea Schleibaum’s son Owen was 3 weeks old, she noticed something. “He had a flat spot on the back of his head,” Andrea said. “We have another daughter and she also had a flat spot when she was...
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A Happy Accident: Pandemic-Related Delays Lead Family to an Alternative to...
When Monica and Stefan McDaniel’s daughter Jeanne was 8 months old and starting to walk, Monica noticed something wasn’t right.Jeanne in her custom brace for infantile scoliosis.“I became increasingly...
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Maxwell’s Plagiocephaly Story: “A Really Positive Experience”
At 2 months old, Maxwell’s parents noticed he had a side preference—his head always seemed to be turned the same way, and that preferred side seemed to be flattened. They asked their pediatrician about...
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Rosie’s Bracing Story: “It Didn’t Slow Her Down for a Second”
Six-year-old Rosie Barrett is always on the go, and as is fairly common with active kids, all that action results in the occasional injury. For Rosie, that injury was a broken humerus bone, the result...
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The Importance of Early Intervention for Scoliosis
With scoliosis, as with many other medical conditions, the earlier it is caught and treated, the better the chance for a successful outcome.Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal disorder in which there is a...
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Alonzo’s Juvenile Scoliosis Story: An International Trip to Avoid Surgery
When Alonzo De las Casas was diagnosed with scoliosis, the situation was unusual in two ways: he was only 5 years old, and he was a boy.The most common type of scoliosis in children (accounting for...
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Is Your Baby’s Head Flat on One Side? It Could be Due to this Congenital...
Many babies develop a flat spot on one side of the head, called plagiocephaly. While some cases of head flattening are the result of a rare birth defect (congenital plagiocephaly), most cases of flat...
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Flat-Head Treatment Options Based on the Age of the Baby
Many babies—as many as one in every five—has a flat spot on the back or side of the head. This flattening, called plagiocephaly if the flattening is on one side of the head and brachycephaly if the...
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Q&A with Brad Varney, CO
Brad Varney is a certified orthotist who specializes in pediatric scoliosis and plagiocephaly management among other things at the Boston O&P clinic in Peabody, MA. In this Q&A, Brad shares how...
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Q&A with Shea Stokesbary, CPO
Shea Stokesbary is a certified orthotist prosthetist who specializes in pediatric orthotics among other things at the Boston O&P clinic in Richmond, VA. In this Q&A, Shea shares how she got...
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Paige’s Juvenile Scoliosis Story: Supporting Other Kids with Lemonade & Higgy...
Paige in her braceWhen Paige’s parents took her to her yearly checkup at age 5, her pediatrician, Dr. Kimberly Kinney at Orangetown Pediatrics, noticed a small bulge in her shoulder. “It was so subtle,...
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Q&A with Sarah Cunzolo, COA, CFo, CPed
Sarah Cunzolo, COA, CFo, CPed is aCertified Orthotic Assistant, Certified Fitter-orthotics, Certified Pedorthist who specializes in pediatric orthotics among other things at the Boston O&P clinic...
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The How and Why of Plagiocephaly and Other Forms of Acquired Head Flattening
A common question I am asked by parents is how head flattening occurs and why it only occurs in some infants (25-35% by most estimates). First, let’s address why it only affects some infants.Risk...
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Zarah’s Bracing Story: “Listen to Your Child”
When Aisha Mawusi was pregnant with her daughter and went for her first ultrasound, doctors told her that one of her child’s legs looked shorter than the other. When Zarah was born in July 2017, what...
View ArticleJames and the Orange Clinic: A Definite Improvement
When Robin found out her son James’s clinician, Shelley Sherbondy, CPO, was leaving her current clinic in New Haven, her reaction was immediate.“I told her, ‘Tell me where you’re going—we’ll follow...
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Teenager Launches Scoliosis Brace Design Contest
Let me introduce you to an exceptional, inspiring teenager: Ava from emBrace.Ava was 11 years old and entering middle school when she was first diagnosed with scoliosis. Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal...
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Lemonade for Higgy Bears: Former Scoliosis Patient Raises Funds to Help Other...
At age 4, Kendall was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic scoliosis. Her mom bought her a Higgy Bear to help her cope with wearing her brace and to use as an educational tool when explaining the brace...
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Roxy the Dog Teaches Kids It’s OK to Be Different
Roxy is 12 years old and has weakness in her hind legs, has undergone four surgeries, and at one point almost lost a limb. Fortunately, surgery saved her leg, so she still has all four. That’s right:...
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Scoliosis and Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is used to increase function, range of motion, and strength in a specific part of the body. When paired with other treatments or interventions, it can help improve outcomes and have...
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Ava’s Bracing Story: Still Dancing
Many people have never heard of scoliosis before they are diagnosed. That was not the case with 13-year-old Ava Krukonis.“My entire life, my doctor has been closely checking me for scoliosis because of...
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Ava’s Bracing Story: From Patient to Practitioner
Many people with scoliosis have their lives changed by bracing, but few are so intrigued and impressed by the experience that they end up entering the O&P field.For Ava Krukonis, her bracing...
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