A BOY, who was diagnosed with a severe curve to his spine, has been able to play football again after undergoing an intensive exercise programme that has drastically changed his prognosis.

After doctors discovered that 12-year-old Sammy Evans had scoliosis, his mother Melissa began researching the condition on the internet.

Specialists confirmed that Sammy needed an operation now and further operations as he grew up, so the family looked for alternative treatments.

They discovered a London clinic which offered non-surgical treatment in the form of an intensive four-week exercise programme, followed-up by 30-minutes of exercises daily.

Mrs Evans, of Brisbane Avenue, Bolton Woods, Bradford, took the decision to try the alternative in an effort to allow Sammy to play his beloved football again, and his whole family were overwhelmed with the results.

She said: “I feel so relieved that Sammy’s condition is under control again. It was such a scary time for all the family and I just wanted to make the right decision for him.

"I did not want to send him for surgery knowing it could cause other health complications and something he might hold against me when he is older."

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Sammy, who is being temporarily home schooled, was a fit and active youngster and dreaming of becoming a professional football player, when he began complaining of aches and pains in his back and was getting tired far quicker than normal. His mother also noticed that his hip was protruding on one side.

An appointment with the family's GP confirmed that Sammy had scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, and he was referred to an orthopaedic surgeon.

Mrs Evans, a private maths tutor, said: “Sammy was terrified, he tried to put on a brave face but I knew he wasn’t sleeping and I was paranoid that he was starting to develop problems with his appearance. He was at a very vulnerable age and all I wanted to do was protect him, not send him for major surgery.”

They realised that Sammy would need to have several operations if they agreed to surgery to fuse his spine as he still had a lot of growing left to do, and the operations were complicated and came with a number of risks. They were also advised that he should stop playing contact sports as any injury to his back or hips could make the condition worse.

Scoliosis causes the spine to excessively curve sideways and the condition affects more than four percent of the population. Operating involves metal rods being inserted either side of the spine, before the spine is fused solid.

A specialist appointment revealed that the curve in Sammy's spine was above the surgery threshold and that he would need up to five operations.

It was at this point that the family discovered the alternative exercise programme which he undertook this summer and has resulted in Sammy's posture being corrected to the point where he no longer needs surgery.

A spokesman for the Scoliosis SOS clinic confirmed that he can continue to manage his condition by maintaining its recommended daily 30-minutes of special exercises as an alternative to surgery.