Scheuermann's Disease Fund
The Scheuermann’s Disease Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation is the first of its kind to help those suffering from Scheuermann’s Disease and its long-term secondary effects.
Scheuermann's Disease is a spinal (skeletal) disease that typically presents itself in children during adolescence. It is often noted by an accentuated curvature, or "hunched back" and if left untreated, may lead to significant health complications later in life. Studies suggest that up to 2% of the population may be affected by this disease.
For the worst sufferers of Scheuermann’s Disease, the effects may include rapid acceleration of degenerative disc disease, a sedentary lifestyle as a result of radiating spinal pain, multiple surgeries to correct spinal and body deformities, debilitating lower back pain, erosive spinal osteoarthritis, significant mental stress associated with chronic pain, and severe depression and anxiety.
Scheuermann’s Disease is believed to be caused by abnormal bone growth in the vertebrae, potentially by an interruption of blood flow. This happens most often during a growth spurt during adolescence that causes the vertebrae to change from a healthy rectangular shape to triangular wedge shapes.
The Scheuermann’s Disease Fund was created to dramatically improve public awareness of Scheuermann’s Disease, or Scheuermann’s Kyphosis as it is sometimes called, as well as improving the lives of those living with its effects. Another major goal of The Fund is to provide funding for research studies that may include genetic testing as well as long-term case studies.