For centuries, scoliosis was treated as a purely mechanical problem—a bent spine that needed to be pulled, braced, or fused straight. Ancient Greek physicians like Hippocrates described “serpent-like” spines, medieval healers used traction devices, and 20th-century medicine relied on rigid braces and surgical rods. Over time, however, doctors noticed inconsistencies: some patients with large curves lived normal, active lives without treatment, while others with smaller curves worsened quickly. Pain, progression, and quality of life didn’t always match the size of the curve. Clearly, scoliosis was more than a bone issue.