Scoliosis

jeffinNC

5-Year Member
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May 8, 2017
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212
I posted on DoDMERB also.

Hello question about Scoliosis. My daughter was just diagnosed with a mild case. Never came up in any sports physicals over the years and she is a competitive cross country competitor. However she just applied to PJ school via Civil Air Patrol. It is a very rigorous week long school this summer. So CAP gave us a checklist to take to the doctor and it appeared to be a more intensive physical basically. The checklist asked for a x ray and to make a long story short she does have some curvature in her spine. All else checked out well. Her squadron commander seems concerned that they may not let her in the school. So is a mild case of scoliosis disqualifying for the USAFA?
 
Hello

Our CAP Senior squadron commander was a Colonel in the Army. He sent me this:

There is lumbar scoliosis greater than 20 degrees, thoracic scoliosis greater than 30 degrees, and kyphosis or lordosis greater than 55 degrees when measured by the Cobb method. He said still it is possible but if greater than these in any of the three areas we would need a waiver. That sound right?
 
DS ‘18 had classmate that had very mild case and don’t believe it was picked up by DoDMERB, however, he had to withdraw during 2BCT because of constant pain due to extreme exertion that occurs at Jack’s...he is doing well in the civilian world now..but was disappointing nonetheless
 
DS ‘18 had classmate that had very mild case and don’t believe it was picked up by DoDMERB, however, he had to withdraw during 2BCT because of constant pain due to extreme exertion that occurs at Jack’s...he is doing well in the civilian world now..but was disappointing nonetheless

That bites. Sorry about that. My daughter has been through Ranger training and boot camp with CAP but this PJ training is the real deal and very difficult I hear. She is ready to go but needed a more in depth physical for PJ training. We will get the measurements (degrees) and will find out shortly if it is disqualifying. It will change our entire future plans depending on how bad it is. we cant notice it but the xray said otherwise.
 
I think it depends on the percentage of curvature but if it is something like if it is below 13 or 18 (those two numbers stick out in my head) there shouldnt be an issue. Just having it wont get you DQ but rather how bad it is. From what I remember reading, lots of people have some type of curvature but if it is below that magic number it really isnt considered Scoliosis. For example 2% curvature, you dont have Scoliosis
 
Having a minor curvature does not immediately mean it is over. They can DQ, and waive, but with the waiver state your career field is limited.
For example she wants to fly, but her curve is too high to go rated, but low enough to fly a desk. Or they can say we will waive for flying, but not ejection seat.
~ Rated world exams are much more intense than the DoDMERB
~~ You can be perfect in everything, but they also do a sitting height. We know many girls that because their sitting height was too low they were told, yes you can go to UPT, but you will only track heavies since you are too short for ejection seat. There are tall guys that learn how to slouch in a seat because in the AF world their sitting height is too high.

My DH has scoliosis. It was caught when he went for his rated medical exam months before commissioning. It was never caught on his DoDMERB. He was DQd and put up for a waiver. His folks immediately took him to a specialist with the AF's medical response of why he was DQd. The specialist took new xrays. Reviewed them and create a response of why they were wrong, along with the new xrays. Caveat this specialist was a scoliosis specialist that worked at Cedars in NYC and written up for his groundbreaking surgery (fusing a rod to the spine) in People magazine. It was kind of hard for AF to say we know better, especially when the new xray showed 4 degrees less than what they stated he had.
~ The specialist said in his report, showing his xrays against theirs, that my DH had exhaled too early (lung shadow I guess?) and due to this fact his curvature was not as high.
~~ His records went from DQ to Q immediately.

He flew ejection seats for 21 yrs. It was never an issue after he commissioned.
 
Having a minor curvature does not immediately mean it is over. They can DQ, and waive, but with the waiver state your career field is limited.
For example she wants to fly, but her curve is too high to go rated, but low enough to fly a desk. Or they can say we will waive for flying, but not ejection seat.
~ Rated world exams are much more intense than the DoDMERB
~~ You can be perfect in everything, but they also do a sitting height. We know many girls that because their sitting height was too low they were told, yes you can go to UPT, but you will only track heavies since you are too short for ejection seat. There are tall guys that learn how to slouch in a seat because in the AF world their sitting height is too high.

My DH has scoliosis. It was caught when he went for his rated medical exam months before commissioning. It was never caught on his DoDMERB. He was DQd and put up for a waiver. His folks immediately took him to a specialist with the AF's medical response of why he was DQd. The specialist took new xrays. Reviewed them and create a response of why they were wrong, along with the new xrays. Caveat this specialist was a scoliosis specialist that worked at Cedars in NYC and written up for his groundbreaking surgery (fusing a rod to the spine) in People magazine. It was kind of hard for AF to say we know better, especially when the new xray showed 4 degrees less than what they stated he had.
~ The specialist said in his report, showing his xrays against theirs, that my DH had exhaled too early (lung shadow I guess?) and due to this fact his curvature was not as high.
~~ His records went from DQ to Q immediately.

He flew ejection seats for 21 yrs. It was never an issue after he commissioned.

Thanks for sharing that. That was nice to read and extremely informative! We don't even know for sure what the severity level is yet. We never noticed so we are thinking it can't be to bad. We are in 10th grade so if the report is bad then we will just switch gears away from USAFA for her. We hope not though:) We still are going to focus on getting her Spaatz Award even if our academy dreams cant be realized. Thanks for this info again.
 
Thanks for sharing that. That was nice to read and extremely informative! We don't even know for sure what the severity level is yet. We never noticed so we are thinking it can't be to bad. We are in 10th grade so if the report is bad then we will just switch gears away from USAFA for her. We hope not though:) We still are going to focus on getting her Spaatz Award even if our academy dreams cant be realized. Thanks for this info again.

My DD is a sophomore like yours and her scoliosis was caught 2 years ago. PT showed a reduction and no further curvature. She is under 12 I think so we have our fingers crossed...
 
Thanks for sharing that. That was nice to read and extremely informative! We don't even know for sure what the severity level is yet. We never noticed so we are thinking it can't be to bad. We are in 10th grade so if the report is bad then we will just switch gears away from USAFA for her. We hope not though:) We still are going to focus on getting her Spaatz Award even if our academy dreams cant be realized. Thanks for this info again.

My DD is a sophomore like yours and her scoliosis was caught 2 years ago. PT showed a reduction and no further curvature. She is under 12 I think so we have our fingers crossed...

Aw that is good news. Mine is 15 now so I think her growing maybe done? Nobody has ever noticed. We are getting a formal measurement report on April 3rd. Never worried about her physically before but life does throw curve balls.
 
Aw that is good news. Mine is 15 now so I think her growing maybe done? Nobody has ever noticed. We are getting a formal measurement report on April 3rd. Never worried about her physically before but life does throw curve balls.

Meant her curve is under 12.... she too is 15.
 
Hello

Our CAP Senior squadron commander was a Colonel in the Army. He sent me this:

There is lumbar scoliosis greater than 20 degrees, thoracic scoliosis greater than 30 degrees, and kyphosis or lordosis greater than 55 degrees when measured by the Cobb method. He said still it is possible but if greater than these in any of the three areas we would need a waiver. That sound right?

Just took my daughter to a spinal specialist who was also a AF doctor. Her results were 13 lumbar 13 thoracic and 40 lordisis. So nowhere near automatic DQ numbers. The doctor advised that since she is done growing these results should stay the same. He said anything over 13 so 14 to 19 she would possibly need a waiver. But since she was 13 all should be fine especially since it is not accompanied with any pain. My daughter is extremely relieved.
 
My DD is a sophomore like yours and her scoliosis was caught 2 years ago. PT showed a reduction and no further curvature. She is under 12 I think so we have our fingers crossed...
What type of PT reduced scoliosis?
 
What type of PT reduced scoliosis?
Yes, Schroth Physical Therapy! Also, Rigo-Cheneau style bracing can result in curve correction. However, at the age of 15, she may have reached full skeletal maturity, in which case bracing is not as effective.
 
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