Charleston Bending Brace Foundation

Ralph Hooper, Taylor, and her Charleston Bending Brace

If you have questions about the Charleston Bending Brace, Taylor has graciously agreed to give you the teen perspective.

What is scoliosis?

A normal spine is straight when viewed front or the back. Normally, when viewed from the side, the spine curves backwards in the chest area and forward in the waist area. When viewed from the top down, all of the vertebrae should be facing forward. However, with scoliosis the spine curves to one side or the other. From the top looking down through the center of the spine, some of the vertebrae are twisted which causes the ribs attached to the vertebrae to protrude, usually on the right side.

Taylor's Adolescent Scoliosis Forum

Young girls between the ages of 10 and 16 are the most common sufferers of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. It is a painful condition than can remain a lifelong problem if left untreated. Taylor is currently underoing treatment for adolescent scoliosis with the Charleston Bending Brace. She and Ralph Hooper, one of the creators of the Charleston Bending Brace, have created this site to answer questions for those suffering from adolescent scoliosis and their loved ones.

Celebrities with Scoliosis

Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the rock band Nirvana.
Cobain battled chronic bronchitis and intense physical pain due to a chronic stomach condition. None of the doctors he consulted were able to pinpoint the specific cause, guessing that it was either a result of Cobain's childhood scoliosis or related to the stresses of performing.

Laura Dern
In an interview with Laura Dern, the actress is quoted as saying that she had an extreme S curve in her spine when she was 9. She told the interviewer that all of the doctors and specialists she went to advised her and her mom that she had six months before she would have to be put in a brace from the neck down.

Sarah Michelle Gellar
She is one of Hollywood's most versatile actresses, most commonly known for her role as Buffy in the Golden Globe nominated show, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". She also won an Emmy award for her fantastic performance as Kendall Hart in "All my Children".

Chloe Sevigny
Chloe Sevigny stands out as one of the most prominent queens of contemporary independent cinema. Originally hailing from Darien, Connecticut, Sevigny attributes weekend trips into nearby New York City in her teens as an important early saving grace from her super rich and stuffy hometown. It was on one such trip at the age of eighteen, that Sevigny was spotted on the street by a fashion editor for Sassy magazine.

Charleston Bending Brace Foundation
285 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401
Email: info@cbb.org | Phone: (843) 577-9577 (8:00am-4:30pm et) | After Hours: (843) 884-2202 (leave message)