by Daragh Frawley
A SPECIAL swimming programme developed in Ireland for children with scoliosis has achieved astonishing results, according to a leading consultant spine surgeon.
‘Straight2Swimming’ (S2S), is the world’s first tailored swim programme for pre and post-surgical scoliosis patients under 18 years of age, which helps to promote fitness, confidence and well-being, as well as encouraging scoliosis patients to get back into sport.
Scoliosis is a condition that results in the spine being twisted, causing intensely painful curvature of the back. It occurs in as many as two in every 1,000 children in Ireland, usually between the ages of five and sixteen.
“S2S is the most positive single action in enhancing scoliosis patients’ capacity, allowing them to be themselves and all that they can be”, consultant spine surgeon Pat Kiely told the Limerick Post.
“Those recovering from spinal surgery will find that swimming can improve their speed of recovery and the results of this programme have been astonishing; the children taking part have become fitter, stronger and more self-confident.”
The S2S programme was piloted in Belfast initially and after overwhelming interest and a successful opening period, was recently launched at The Curragh in Kildare.
There are currently 95 children participating in the S2S programme, 35 of which are attending the Curragh every Sunday from all parts of Ireland.
Of those, Kilmallock teenager Rita Hanley has found the swimming programme to be highly beneficial. The sixteen year-old, who is the only girl among seven siblings, has a keen interest in sport, having played soccer at county level for Limerick.
Her mother Margaret explained the difficult situation facing the family.
“In April 2015, while getting a check up for asthma, the GP was listening to her chest and noticed a deformity. I thought it was bad posture so we went to a private consultant in Croom, who referred her to Crumlin.
“She then had a private MRI at Barringtons Hospital. All of that treatment amounted to €800 but if we had gone on the public list, she would have been waiting for years to get either a scan or consultation.
Her curvature has deteriorated very rapidly since last April with the measurement six months ago being 114 degrees, and it has certainly gotten worse since then” explained Ms Hanley.
“Her breathing is impaired as her internal organs are compressed and she sometimes has to take painkillers as she is very uncomfortable. I am more anxious than her and the wait is difficult. This year we have had to cancel plans for a family holiday as we keep expecting the call”.
Ms Hanley went on to explain that they were notified about S2S by a nurse in Crumlin, and the free of charge programme has been a great help thus far.
The programme is supported by two of Ireland’s top orthopaedic surgeons, Pat Kiely and David Moore, who treat some of the children participating in the S2S programme, including Rita.
“The staff have been very helpful” said Ms Hanley. “It is a 360km round trip from Kilmallock to the Curragh for a one hour swim, but Rita enjoys every trip despite sitting in the car for four hours which is evidence that she is really benefiting from it.
Having attended 68 sessions so far, the programme has helped Rita develop her self-confidence .
While the children are swimming each week at the Curragh, the parents also attend a forum where they can discuss various issues and concerns with other parents; something which Margaret says is particularly useful as they have met Health Minister Leo Varadkar who says that scoliosis will be one of his priorities.
While S2S has been a big help for Rita her case is still regarded as urgent, and she has recently been put on the Temple Street Hospital list in the hope that she will be seen sooner.
For more information on the Straight2Swimming programme visit http://swimbelfast.com/straight-to-swimming/.
