Spine-Talks

Dr. Rita Roy

Welcome to Spine-Talks®, the official podcast of the National Spine Health Foundation — your source for scholarly guidance on spinal health and wellbeing. Here, we have the opportunity to interview top spine surgeons, rehab specialists, patients, and researchers as we speak about innovative technology in the treatment of the spine, hear real patient stories, and provide evidence-based recommendations for a pain-free, active life. No matter if you are in recovery from a spinal condition or simply wish to maintain a healthy back, Spine-Talks® offers hope, education, and empowerment—straight from the nation's top spine experts. Chip in today and be a part of the effort to help create healthy backs! Donate | National Spine Health Foundation

  1. 2d ago

    What’s New in Scoliosis Research

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Spine Talks, we explore one of the most important questions in spine health: What’s New in Scoliosis Research?  Host Dr. Rita Roy, CEO of the Spine Health Foundation, is joined by Dr. Nicolas Plais-Cotrel, orthopedic spine surgeon at the University Hospital of Granada and member of the Scientific Board of the Fondation Yves Cotrel, one of the world's leading organizations dedicated to advancing scoliosis research. Together, they discuss groundbreaking discoveries that are reshaping our understanding of scoliosis and bringing new hope to patients and families worldwide.  The conversation explores how scoliosis is far more than a simple sideways curvature of the spine. Dr. Plais-Cotrel explains the complex three-dimensional nature of the condition, the unique role of human spinal alignment and bipedal posture, and why scoliosis remains one of the most fascinating mysteries in musculoskeletal medicine.  Topics include:  • The difference between normal spinal alignment and scoliosis, and why spinal curves are essential for balance and movement  • Why scoliosis is considered a uniquely human condition linked to our upright posture  • New insights into the biomechanics of spinal growth and curve progression  • Emerging discoveries in genetics and the search for biological pathways that may explain why scoliosis develops  • How neuroscience, proprioception, balance, and vestibular function may influence spinal deformity  • The Fondation Yves Cotrel’s international research efforts to uncover the causes—or etiology—of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis  • The role of bracing, early detection, and scoliosis screening in improving outcomes for children and adolescents  • Why multidisciplinary collaboration among surgeons, geneticists, engineers, neurologists, and researchers is accelerating progress toward future treatments and prevention strategies  Throughout the discussion, Drs. Roy and Plais-Cotrel emphasize a powerful message: while significant questions remain, the future of scoliosis research has never been more promising. By bringing together leading scientists from around the world and investing in innovative research, organizations like the Fondation Yves Cotrel are helping move the field beyond treating scoliosis toward understanding—and ultimately preventing—it.  This inspiring conversation offers patients, families, clinicians, and researchers a front-row seat to the discoveries that may define the next generation of scoliosis care.  Learn More: https://spinehealth.org/spine-talks/ Support the show  Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!

    40 min
  2. 10/20/2025

    Stronger Together: How Specialists Work Together to Improve Bone Health for Women and Men

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Spine Talks, we  explore the vital topic of osteoporosis — a condition that weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures — with two world-class experts from complementary fields: Dr. Robert Adler, an endocrinologist from Virginia Commonwealth University and the Richmond VA Center who has spent more than 30 years studying osteoporosis in women and men, and Dr. Paul Anderson, an orthopedic spine surgeon from the University of Wisconsin who leads bone health programs aimed at preventing fractures and improving surgical outcomes, and co-chairs our Task Force. Together, they uncover what most people don’t realize: bones are living, changing organs that constantly remodel throughout life. The doctors discuss: How bone health changes over time and why osteoporosis is often silent until a fracture occursSimple, preventive steps — nutrition, vitamin D, calcium, and weight-bearing exerciseDiagnostic tools like the DEXA scan, and who should be screenedThe intersection of spine surgery and bone health — why bone optimization matters before surgeryOsteoporosis in men, a frequently overlooked population with higher mortality after fracturesModern treatments, including antiresorptive and anabolic medications, their safety, effectiveness, and how they restore bone strengthThe episode emphasizes that osteoporosis is preventable and treatable, with the right combination of lifestyle, medical care, and awareness. Both doctors encourage patients to be proactive advocates for their bone health and start conversations with their physicians about screening and treatment options. Support the show  Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!

    43 min

About

Welcome to Spine-Talks®, the official podcast of the National Spine Health Foundation — your source for scholarly guidance on spinal health and wellbeing. Here, we have the opportunity to interview top spine surgeons, rehab specialists, patients, and researchers as we speak about innovative technology in the treatment of the spine, hear real patient stories, and provide evidence-based recommendations for a pain-free, active life. No matter if you are in recovery from a spinal condition or simply wish to maintain a healthy back, Spine-Talks® offers hope, education, and empowerment—straight from the nation's top spine experts. Chip in today and be a part of the effort to help create healthy backs! Donate | National Spine Health Foundation

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