Columns
DC PARK's perspective on the spine, posture, and rehabilitation.
Featured column · Spine stories
If one side of the back rises when bending forward
Signs of scoliosis you can spot on a child's back, a simple forward-bend check you can do at home, and when to get a professional assessment.
October 2026 · 5 min readWhen one side of the back rises as your child bends forwardAdolescent scoliosis by the numbers: how common it is, and when an evaluation is needed
Back pain when you lean back, back pain when you bend forward"Which way does it hurt when you move?" The answer to this one question is a clue to understanding back pain.
Herniated disc vs. spinal stenosis: the symptoms differ when you walkA 34-year-old whose leg tingles while sitting, and a 67-year-old whose legs grow heavy while walking. Following each person's day, we look at how their symptom patterns differ.
Why a Stiff Neck Can Give You a Headache"Whenever the back of my neck gets stiff, I get a headache." Here is that question played out as a scene, in the order the conversation actually goes during a consultation.
Rounded Shoulders: Why Releasing Comes Before StrengtheningWhat a meta-analysis of 22 exercise studies on rounded shoulders and forward head posture tells us, and what it can't tell us yet
A Shoulder That Hurts Only Partway Up"My shoulder hurts" can mean very different things depending on where movement gets stuck, how much strength is left, and what set it off. Here are three people's shoulders, side by side.
No Pain, All Healed? What to Check Before You Return to SportAn international consensus statement recommends judging return to sport by whether you've passed set criteria, not by whether the pain is gone.
A Parent's Suddenly Rounded Back May Signal a Compression FractureTwo out of three never mention pain. Spinal compression fractures by the numbers, and what families should look for first.
The Pain Is Better, So Why Keep Exercising?Not hurting and having your body work properly again are not the same thing.