Early Years
The International Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT) was formed in 2006, with the first formal meeting as a society taking place in April of that year in Poznan, Poland, hosted by Tomasz Kotwicki and Jaced Durmala.
However, the seeds for this new organization were planted two years prior.
In January 2004, a group of almost 100 clinicians gathered in Barcelona, Spain, to discuss approaches to conservative scoliosis and to improve the standard of care for this population. According to host and SOSORT Founder, Manuel Rigo, the meeting was organized quickly without a high expectation for a large turnout. It as a pleasant surprise to all to have such a large group gathered.
By the time the group met again a year later in Milan, Italy, hosted by Stefano Negrini and his team, the group focused on the development of three consensus papers eventually published in the newly formed ‘Scoliosis Journal’. The consensus papers developed around the following topics:
- physiotherapy
- bracing
- objectives of treatment
The first SOSORT guidelines had already been published and the Scoliosis Journal was in publication, with SOSORT founder Theodoros B. Grivas as the first editor-in-chief.
SOSORT was the first organization of its kind- an international body of experts in the conservative management of scoliosis and spine structural changes dedicated to improving research and effectiveness of treatment for those affected by spine structural changes.
SOSORT Founders
SOSORT was founded by the following individuals:
- Jean Claude DeMauroy, MD
- Theodoros Grivas, MD
- Tomasz Kotwicki, MD
- Toru Maruyama, MD
- Stefano Negrini, MD
- Manuel Rigo, MD
- Hans-Rudolf Weiss, MD
In 2019, the founders were asked to reflect on the evolution of SOSORT- both to look back on the formation of the society and cast a vision for the society’s continued growth.
Below are the perspectives of these key individuals, without whom SOSORT would not be here today.