BackGenius

06/30/2026

https://youtu.be/SWbwTdx3dNQ?is=UQn4jHE9HKmE6_a9

Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC sits down with Dr. Mark Morningstar — one of...

06/30/2026

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3271/14/3/360

Could Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Help Patients with Neuromuscular Scoliosis? Here's What the Science Says...

A new review that my colleague Dr. Megan Strauchman and I recently published highlights an important issue in hyperbaric medicine: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (mHBOT) are NOT the same treatment. Unfortunately, the two are often used interchangeably, creating confusion for both patients and healthcare providers.

Medical-grade HBOT uses 100% oxygen at pressures typically between 2.0 and 3.0 ATA, while mild hyperbaric therapy generally uses lower pressures (1.1-1.4 ATA) with room air or oxygen from a concentrator. These different treatment "doses" produce very different biological effects.

At higher pressures, HBOT has been shown to:

✔️ Improve oxygen delivery to tissues

✔️ Stimulate angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation)

✔️ Mobilize stem cells

✔️ Reduce inflammation

✔️ Improve mitochondrial function

✔️ Influence important repair pathways involving VEGF, nitric oxide, HIF-1α, and other signaling molecules involved in healing and recovery.

Our review also points out something equally important: mild hyperbaric therapy is not biologically inactive. Research suggests it can influence autonomic function, exercise recovery, immune activity, and several neurological conditions. However, the current evidence simply does not support treating it as equivalent to medical HBOT. Each intervention deserves to be studied independently.

So what does this have to do with neuromuscular scoliosis?

Children and adults with neuromuscular scoliosis often have much more than a spinal curvature. Many also experience:

• impaired muscle activation

• chronic inflammation

• reduced tissue oxygenation

• mitochondrial dysfunction

• fatigue

• impaired motor control

• progressive weakness

These are all biological systems that hyperbaric therapies may influence.

Could improving oxygen delivery enhance muscle performance or rehabilitation?

Could reducing neuroinflammation improve motor learning?

Could improved mitochondrial function increase endurance during scoliosis-specific rehabilitation?

Could better tissue oxygenation improve recovery from surgery or intensive therapy?

These are exciting questions—but they remain questions.

At this point, we simply do not have high-quality clinical trials evaluating HBOT specifically for neuromuscular scoliosis. While the underlying biology is certainly intriguing, it's important not to assume that benefits seen in traumatic brain injury, wound healing, cerebral palsy, or other neurological conditions automatically apply to scoliosis. That's exactly the type of evidence extrapolation our paper cautions against.

The next generation of scoliosis research should move beyond simply asking "Does HBOT work?" Instead, we should be asking:

• Which scoliosis patients are most likely to benefit?

• What pressure and oxygen dose are optimal?

• Which biological pathways are actually changing?

• Can HBOT enhance the effectiveness of scoliosis rehabilitation rather than replace it?

Answering these questions could open an entirely new avenue for treating neuromuscular scoliosis with a precision medicine approach.

The future isn't about replacing established scoliosis therapies—it's about combining biomechanics, neurology, metabolism, and regenerative medicine to improve outcomes for patients.

Background/Objectives: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy (mHBOT) are two terms commonly used by hyperbaric chamber sellers, hyperbaric oxygen therapy practitioners, and even by many scientists as if they were synonymous. The following review of hyperbaric oxygen the...

05/21/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taBawSCYk6c

Dr. Morningstar had the privilege of being interviewed by Zena Le Roux the Health Coaches Academy about non-surgical scoliosis management. Here is the full podcast episode!

In this episode of HCA Talks Health, Zena Le Roux interviews Dr. Ma...

04/16/2026

So excited to share the chat I had with Clara on the AcuPro Show! We dove into A Whole Body Approach on Treating Scoliosis. Listen now:

03/23/2026

How to put on our Activity Suit!

03/23/2026

Location matters more than you think! 🌡️ Because you get more Vitamin D naturally in sunnier states like Florida, the medical “reference range” actually shifts higher compared to places like Michigan. It’s a clear sign that our bodies are designed to thrive on that natural sunlight. Are you getting enough based on where you live? 🧐

03/18/2026

It’s not just about what you take; it’s about how your body uses it. 🧬 Bone mineralization is a complex process that requires a symphony of nutrients—Calcium, Magnesium, Boron, and Phosphorus—all driven by the power of Vitamins D and K.
Normal bone density doesn’t happen by accident. Optimize your intake to make sure your minerals are actually going where they’re needed most.

03/14/2026

No matter where you live, your health is a priority. Keeping your blood level at 70 can help you avoid some of the worst health issues. Keep your blood levels in check and stay healthy! scoliosisworld

03/09/2026

Could a simple vitamin deficiency influence scoliosis progression?

In this episode of Scoliosis World, Dr. Mark Morningstar explores the important connection between vitamin D, bone metabolism, and scoliosis progression. While scoliosis is often treated as purely a structural spinal problem, emerging research suggests that metabolic and nutritional factors—especially vitamin D status—may influence bone density, skeletal growth, and spinal stability.

Dr. Morningstar explains how vitamin D regulates calcium absorption, supports bone remodeling, and influences skeletal development, all of which may be important in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and adults with spinal degeneration.

This episode highlights why vitamin D deficiency is extremely common, how it may impact spinal biomechanics, and why evaluating nutritional and metabolic health may be an overlooked component of scoliosis care.

If you or your child has scoliosis—or if you're a clinician treating spinal conditions—this episode will help you understand why whole-body factors matter when managing scoliosis.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone strength
• How vitamin D deficiency may affect scoliosis progression
• The connection between bone density, skeletal growth, and spinal curvature
• Why scoliosis may involve more than just structural spinal alignment
• How metabolic and nutritional health influence long-term spine stability

About Scoliosis World

Scoliosis World is a podcast hosted by Dr. Mark Morningstar, DC, PhD, where leading experts discuss the science of scoliosis, spinal biomechanics, genetics, hormones, and innovative treatment approaches.

The goal is to help patients, parents, and healthcare providers better understand scoliosis from a whole-body perspective—not just the spine.

Subscribe for New Episodes

If you're interested in learning about:

• Non-surgical scoliosis treatment
• Spine biomechanics
• Genetics and hormones in scoliosis
• Integrative and functional approaches to spinal health

Subscribe to Scoliosis World for weekly insights.

Episode 39 - In this episode of Scoliosis World, Dr. Mark Morningstar explores the important connection between vitamin D, bone metabolism, and scoliosis pro...

03/03/2026

Give your kids the best start possible! 🌟 Encourage physical activity, whether it’s playing sports or just getting outside. Let’s help them grow strong and healthy! 💪✨