You may recognize the name Leilani. She is a 13 year-old girl who is the 2012 national vice-champion of Costa Rica and is currently ranked #1 in Womens Open and Womens Junior categories in the sport of competitive surfing. What makes this girl even more extraordinary is that she has achieved these honors while living with severe idiopathic scoliosis.
In 2012, Leilani was fitted with a Cheneau Rigo scoliosis brace made by Grant Wood, which has stopped the progression of her scoliotic deformity and thus allowed Leilani to continue to compete as one of the top young surfers in the world.
Words of wisdom from Leilani: “Keep it up, train hard, never give up even if other people say so, follow your heart, and if you’re not having fun, there is no point to it. With confidence, you can pretty much do anything.” Leilani does not allow scoliosis to prevent her from pursuing her dreams.
Ballet & The Brace article featured in Teen Vogue about ballet dancer Gigi.
Cover photo of the Teen Vogue issue that features Ballet & The Brace article.
Mia
Mia's video of her bracing journey from casting to fitting, and seeing Dr. Rigo for follow-up at the 2015 San Mateo clinic.
Kendall
Kendall performing part of an Irish dance routine. Click in the lower right of the video for fullscreen.
Kate S
Kate winning first at her event at the New Balance competition
Alexa
11 year-old Alexa's scoliosis pop music video in WCR brace.
Alice
Click pictures for full size with captions. As well as these pictures, Alice is the: 2013 California State Taekwondo Champion 2013 AAU National Vice-Champion 2014 USAT National Vice-Champion
Briana
Kate
Align Clinic would like to thank our awesome patient Kate for her custom crafted pens, made specifically for our practitioners
