Living with scoliosis or spinal fusion can sometimes feel isolating—especially when you grow up without knowing anyone else who shares your experience. In this episode, Dr. Laura and Dr. Beth talk about the importance of finding your community living with scoliosis and spinal fusion.

The conversation highlights the growing scoliosis community both online and in person—including local meetups and the upcoming BioniCon, a first-of-its-kind conference designed specifically for adults with scoliosis and spinal fusion.

Dr. Beth will be presenting on getting started with strength training for scoliosis and spinal fusion, and Dr. Laura will be presenting on the connection between scoliosis and the pelvic floor, along with a session on pregnancy with scoliosis and spinal fusion.

Join Dr. Laura and Dr. Beth as they discuss pelvic organ prolapse, what it is, and how to manage it with special guest expert Dr. Margo. Together, they discuss why symptoms like heaviness or back pain happen, the role of genetics, why lifting weights can actually be protective of developing prolapse and why proper pressure management and core coordination matter.

This week continues the series on scoliosis and the pelvic floor by diving deeper into how scoliosis can directly influence pelvic floor function—and what symptoms may signal that it’s time to seek help.

Building on last week's episode, Laura explains how scoliosis-related rotation, asymmetry, and postural shifts can create imbalances in the pelvic floor muscles (much like what we already recognize in the spine, ribs, & trunk). Because the pelvis is directly connected to the spine, scoliosis significantly affects how the pelvic floor contracts, relaxes, & coordinates.

Dr. Laura, a pelvic floor physical therapist with a decade of experience as well as advanced scoliosis training, breaks down what the pelvic floor actually is, what it does, and why everyone—regardless of gender, age, pregnancy history or fitness level.

From bladder and bowel control to breathing, core stability, sexual function, and lifting heavy weights, the pelvic floor plays a much bigger role in movement and daily life than most people realize.

If you move with intention, you are an athlete. In this episode, Dr. Beth and Dr. Laura get personal about what it really looks like to train as athletes with scoliosis and spinal fusion.

From Olympic weightlifting to triathlon racing, Beth and Laura share how they support their spines while pursuing demanding athletic goals—and why scoliosis or fusion doesn’t automatically mean you have to stop doing the sports you love.

If you’re planning to have scoliosis surgery, seeing a scoliosis-specific physical therapist beforehand can make a meaningful difference in both surgical outcomes and recovery. While “prehab” is standard for many orthopedic surgeries like knee or hip replacements, it’s still rare in the scoliosis world. Listen in to learn why that needs to change.

Between years of training, professional expertise, and consistent movement practices, they discuss how pain can still show up—and how to respond to it with awareness, adaptability, and compassion rather than fear.

Dr. Laura and Dr. Beth share key takeaways from the Columbia University Pediatric Scoliosis Symposium, one of the leading interdisciplinary scoliosis conferences in the country.

They break down the most impactful sessions, emerging research, and evolving approaches to scoliosis care—spanning pediatrics, adults, surgery, bracing, physical therapy, mental health, and community support. This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at where scoliosis care is headed and what clinicians and patients alike can learn from it.

For many people, access to a scoliosis-informed physical therapist is limited—this conversation breaks down how virtual care can bridge that gap. We discuss how scoliosis-specific assessments, movement analysis, and education can be done effectively online, and why virtual care often empowers clients to become more independent and confident in their movement routines.

Dr. Laura & Dr. Beth sit down with colleague Dr. Jenn Warren, a fellow scoliosis-specialized physical therapist & endurance athlete to dismantle fear of movement with scoliosis. Dr. Jenn shares why this approach is outdated, unsupported by research, and often harmful.

In today's episode, Dr. Laura and Dr. Beth dive into a topic that affects many people living with scoliosis—kinesiophobia (fear of movement). They unpack how kinesiophobia develops, why it’s especially common among adults with scoliosis, and how misinformation can shrink someone’s world over time. They highlight the importance of staying active long-term and why strength training is crucial.

Many people with scoliosis feel constant stiffness and assume they need more stretching. But as Dr. Laura and Dr. Beth explain, tightness doesn’t always mean short muscles — sometimes it’s a sign of fatigue, overwork, or instability. While stretching can offer temporary relief, it often doesn’t address the underlying cause of muscle tension.

Together they discuss why stabilization and strength training tend to be more effective and often lead to longer-term relief and improved posture — especially when done with scoliosis-specific principles & techniques. They describe how building up deep stabilizers and strengthening underactive muscles (often on the concave side of a curve) can reduce tightness naturally over time.

In this special episode of ScoliPod, Dr. Beth and Dr. Laura check in from Dubrovnik, Croatia after spending four days immersed in the latest scoliosis research and clinical insights at the 2025 SOSORT Conference.

They break down their biggest takeaways from each day, covering everything from new approaches to adult scoliosis to the evolving understanding of exercise, bracing, and screening.

Join Dr. Laura and Dr. Beth as they dive into the path to becoming a physical therapist and how some PTs go on to specialize specifically in scoliosis care.

Not all PTs have scoliosis-specific training — and that’s okay, but it’s important to know the difference. Scoliosis-specific schools require hands-on experience, case studies, and ongoing education.

Scoliosis can feel confusing, overwhelming, and even scary when you first hear the diagnosis — but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of ScoliPod, Dr. Laura and Dr. Beth break down the basics of scoliosis: what it is, how it’s measured, and what treatment options are available today.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, supporting a loved one, or a clinician who treats scoliosis, this episode will give you clarity, evidence-based insight, and encouragement.

Listen to our first episode of ScoliPod - the show where we chat all things scoliosis and spinal fusion.

Join Dr. Beth Terranova and myself for bi-weekly chats, unpacking everything you could ever want to know about life and health with scoliosis.

Here’s your connection to expert advice, research based options and how to live your best and strongest life with a spinal condition.