Teenager who feared curved spine would end her dancing career and leave her in a wheelchair says exercises helped her back to the ballroom

A teenager who feared a spinal deformity would leave her wheelchair-bound can resume her dream of becoming a ballroom dance champion thanks to exercises that helped strengthen her back.

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1.Amy Hossain, 16, had severe back pain and struggled with her balance

2.Hospital specialist confirmed she had scoliosis - a curvature of the spine 

3.Surgery involving inserting metal rods would end her dancing career

4.She started an exercise-based treatment and claims it 'changed her life'

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As a child, Amy Hossain had impressed crowds in ballroom dancing competitions across Europe.

But around three years ago she began experiencing severe pain in her back and struggled to maintain balance, to the point that climbing the stairs became difficult.

On the advice of a concerned dance teacher, Miss Hossain spoke to a hospital specialist who confirmed she had scoliosis - a debilitating twisting and curvature of the spine.

Amy Hossain, pictured before her condition worsened, had impressed crowds in ballroom dancing competitions across Europe

The devastating news initially meant she would have to undergo a gruelling nine-hour operation to straighten her spine using metal rods and then wear a brace to keep it straight.

The procedure would fix her spine but mean she would never be able to dance.

With her prospective career hanging in the balance, Miss Hossain persevered with the pain while her parents Ayrton and Tara looked for alternative treatment.

But her condition continued to deteriorate, leaving her spine with a curve at an angle of almost 40 degrees - prompting fears she would need a wheelchair.

However after visiting a specialist clinic in London, she put her faith in an exercise-based treatment.

The Scoliosis SOS clinic, founded by former sufferer Erika Maude, claims to offer a series of specialised exercises tailored to the individual so patients can prevent their condition from progressing any further.

An X-ray (left) and photograph show her scoliosis - a debilitating twisting and curvature of the spine - which left her fearing that she would end up in a wheelchair

It claims the exercises will reduce or eliminate any pain patients are experiencing and reverse the cosmetic changes made to the back because of their curvature.  

After two courses  - each a fortnight in duration - Miss Hossain says spine has now visibly straightened, enabling her to competing in international dance championships again. 

In December - just months after fearing she would never dance again - Miss Hossain and her dance partner finished 16th in the world under-19 ballroom dance championships in Paris. 

She is still undergoing treatment and the clinic and will have to do the exercises before, but is overjoyed she has managed to avoid major surgery. 

Before I was diagnosed, my coaches couldn't understand why I couldn't do simple spin turns or stand still without falling off balance

Amy Hossain, 16 

The 16-year-old, from Ashford, Kent, said: 'Before my treatment I wasn't able to do everything I wanted to do dance routine wise.

'I had lots of pain during the dances and came off balance so easily. 

'Before I was diagnosed, my coaches couldn't understand why I couldn't do simple spin turns or stand still without falling off balance.'

She added: 'Every time I went to my consultant I was told my only option was surgery and that it would likely prevent me from doing my dancing. 

'I was already wearing a brace and I didn't want to add surgery on top of that.'

Miss Hossain, who regularly performs in ballroom and Latin dance at international level across Europe, has now improved her posture and almost reduced the pain completely.

Her 57-year-old father explained the family initially thought Miss Hossain was struggling with growing pains - until they were told the extent of the condition.

'We started to do some research and it became pretty scary,' he said. 'You realise that if the spine is left then the condition becomes debilitating.

'We had a young girl, conscious about her appearance and with the ambition to be a world champion and we thought it was all going to come crashing down.

Miss Hossain put her faith in an exercise-based treatment which shuns the need for spinal fusion surgery. Pictured after treatment, she said it has 'changed her life'

Miss Hossain shunned surgery, which would end her dancing career, in favour of an exercise programme which she says straightened her back (left) and allowed her to step into the ballroom again (right)

'She is now holding herself correctly and as a result is growing too. She will have to continue doing these exercises forever but that's a much better thought than steel rods being inserted into her back.

'I feel silly now thinking it was just her being a kid with poor posture. I used to tell her to stand up straight but now I realise it was a lot more than that.'

WHAT IS SCOLIOSIS?

Scoliosis is the abnormal curvature of the spine in an S-shape.

Signs include a visible curve in the spine, one shoulder or hip being more prominent than the other, clothes not hanging properly and back pain.

Pain usually only affects adults with the condition.

In most cases, the cause of the scoliosis is not known but it can be caused by cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy.

In the UK, scoliosis affects three to four children out of every 1,000.

It is also thought that as many as 70 per cent of over 65s have some degree of scoliosis.

It is more common in women than in men.

Most children with the condition do not require treatment as it is mild and corrects itself as the child grows.

However, in severe cases the child may need to wear a back brace until they stop growing.

Occasionally, a child needs surgery to straighten their spine.

In adults, it is usually too late to treat the condition with a back brace or surgery so treatment revolves around reducing pain.

Source: NHS Choices

Miss Hossain, who trains six days per week, is now able to say that her shoulders are almost level for the first time in years and she is pleased with her posture.

'It has honestly changed my life,' she said.

Commenting on the treatment, a spokesperson for Scoliosis Association UK said: ‘With respect to the treatment of scoliosis we always advise that patients follow the advice of a scoliosis specialist.

‘The scientific evidence that intensive exercise “cures” scoliosis is sparse and unreliable.

‘In mild curvatures intensive exercise can improve posture, muscle strength (thereby supporting the spine more efficiently), flexibility, and appearance, but there is no long-term evidence that it will ultimately prevent progression of a curve.

‘It is important to remember that the scoliosis is different in individuals and that some may have only very mild curvatures that will not progress.

‘Such individuals will therefore benefit from treatments that improve appearance – largely because of positive psychological benefits.

‘Specialists undertake surgery only if it is essential for the long-term health of the individual, how much of the spine is fused will depend on the position and severity of the curve, and great care and consideration is taken to minimise the effect on spinal flexibility.

‘The dangers of surgery are overstated. Serious complications are very rare indeed.

‘Staying fit and active and keeping the core muscles strong is highly desirable for everyone, and especially so for people with spinal conditions, however, a life-long programme of specific exercise is a huge commitment, with no guarantee of long-term success.’

For more information visit www.sauk.org.uk 

Miss Hossain, who regularly performs in ballroom and Latin dance at international level across Europe, is thrilled to be back dancing after fearing scoliosis would leave her in a wheelchair

Source : Daily Mail , 28th jan 2016