WHEN sports enthusiast Katie Burrows was told she had a rare spine condition, she said her world fell apart.

The pupil from Cheney School, Oxford, enjoyed nothing more than playing rounders, and running in school sports lessons against her classmates.

But in summer 2009, after she began to experience excruciating pain in her knees and hip joints, the now 12-year-old was forced to sit out during PE lessons.

Initially mother Alison Burrows put it down to growing pains, until she began to notice an imbalance of Katie’s back and saw her posture was not symmetrical.

A visit to the GP confirmed Katie had severe spinal scoliosis, a curvature of the spine which affects four children out of every 1,000.

In most cases treatment is not needed, but Katie’s case was so severe she faced major surgery, which would involve metal rods being inserted either side of the spine and spending most of her teenage years in a corrective back brace.

Katie, from Lime Walk, Headington, said: “When I found out that I had scoliosis my whole world fell apart.

“When I was told that I needed to have major spinal surgery I was terrified. I would have done anything to avoid it.”

If the condition is left untreated it can lead to fatal heart and lung problems. So, in a desperate final attempt to avoid sending his daughter for surgery, Katie’s father John searched for alternatives.

He found Scoliosis SOS, a clinic of osteopaths and specialists which uses exercise, and non-surgical treatment.

Since her therapy, Katie says she has noticed a significant improvement in her posture and is no longer in pain. She is now participating in PE lessons again.

Katie said: “Being able to avoid wearing a back brace has been amazing. I am now in control of my body and I know what’s good for my back and what’s not.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health said the treatment was not NHS approved.

  • IT IS normal to have a slight sideways curvature in your spine, but scoliosis is defined as a curve of more than 10 degrees. The curvature can be a C-shape or S-shape, and the spine may also be twisted.

The first sign may be that clothes seem to hang unevenly, or a noticeable change in posture. Other signs may include one shoulder being higher, or one shoulder blade sticking out.

The space between the body and the arms may look different on each side. One hip may be more prominent.

Visit your GP if you’re concerned.

Most cases of scoliosis are mild and you will just need regular check-ups.