On October 12, Hangzhou held a launch meeting for a pilot program focused on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions for scoliosis among children and adolescents. This initiative involves collaboration between various departments, including health, education, sports, and disease control, to strengthen the spinal health of young individuals.
During the event, Zhang Qiang, the director of the Zhejiang Province Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, explained that scoliosis is a common health issue during the growth of adolescents. It has now become the third largest health problem affecting Chinese children and teenagers, following obesity and myopia. Scoliosis not only impacts physical development but can also affect psychological well-being, making timely prevention and control crucial.
Zhang elaborated on scoliosis, defining it as the lateral curvature of one or more vertebrae in the spine, typically accompanied by rotation and changes in the curvature of the spine in various planes. He noted that a research team observed nearly 300 cases of idiopathic early-onset scoliosis and discovered that common TCM constitutions among these patients included “harmonious,” “qi deficiency,” and “yang deficiency.”
“We focus on TCM interventions that are about preventing illness before it starts,” Zhang stated. “If adolescents have poor posture without a diagnosis of scoliosis, exercises and dietary interventions can be beneficial. For those already diagnosed, common TCM treatments include massage, acupuncture, and if the condition worsens, certain manual therapy techniques may be employed.”
Ying Xumin, the deputy director of the Hangzhou Health Commission, emphasized that the pilot program will leverage traditional Chinese medicine to create a comprehensive prevention and control plan for scoliosis, including quality control standards and evaluation systems to manage the entire process effectively.
The initiative will see health departments in various districts of Hangzhou work with schools, hospitals, families, and communities to establish a complete diagnostic and treatment service network for scoliosis screening and health management among students. Medical institutions across the city will also set up specialized clinics to facilitate referrals from communities to hospitals, ensuring an efficient “medical, prevention, and rehabilitation” operational mechanism.
Xu Xuqing, deputy director of the Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission, expressed the goal of establishing a training model for TCM intervention teams through this pilot program. This aims to accelerate the cultivation of professionals capable of delivering more scientific and advanced TCM services, while enhancing advocacy and expanding the influence and reach of the pilot work through experience-sharing and innovation.
The event also presented students and parents with a special health gift: the “Stand Tall” package, which includes an engaging cartoon character representing youth spinal health, self-screening tutorials for scoliosis, instructional videos for TCM exercises, a health map for scoliosis care in Hangzhou, direct referral coupons, and dietary recommendations for spinal well-being.
