From being diagnosed with a 53-degree scoliosis curve to winning Miss Italy 2022: Lavinia Abate has chosen to share her journey with ISICO by taking part in an international initiative promoted by the World Rehabilitation Alliance, a network of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The World Rehabilitation Alliance (WRA) has launched the Champions Programme, an initiative that brings together authentic stories of people who have undergone rehabilitation. The aim is to select Rehabilitation Champions: individuals who, through their personal experiences, can help raise awareness of the importance of rehabilitation and its impact on everyday life.

The stories collected may also contribute to awareness-raising initiatives linked to World Rehabilitation Day, which will be celebrated on 24 February 2027. Among those who responded to the invitation is Lavinia Abate, an ISICO patient and Miss Italy 2022, who completed the application form by sharing her experience of five years of conservative treatment for scoliosis at ISICO.

Five Years of Treatment, a 25-Degree Reduction in Her Spinal Curve

Lavinia was just 13 years old when, during a period of rapid growth, her family noticed an asymmetry in her back. She was diagnosed with severe scoliosis, with a 53-degree curve, for which several specialists had recommended surgery.

“My family and I turned to ISICO, where, taking into account my remaining growth potential, I was offered a conservative treatment programme based on bracing and scoliosis-specific physiotherapeutic exercises” – recalls Lavinia Abate. “For five years, I followed the treatment consistently, initially wearing the brace for 23 hours a day and regularly performing postural exercises. The results exceeded all expectations: my spinal curve was reduced by 25 degrees” – Lavinia writes in the testimony she submitted to the WRA.

Those five years were demanding, but scoliosis did not prevent her from pursuing her passions.

“It wasn’t an easy journey, but I never allowed scoliosis to define my limits. I continued dancing and singing throughout my treatment. This experience taught me that determination and perseverance can take us beyond what may seem already written.“

From Scoliosis to Winning Miss Italy

In 2022, the same year she completed her treatment, Lavinia won the Miss Italy title. In her account, this achievement holds a meaning that goes far beyond physical appearance: “For me, it wasn’t just about winning a beauty pageant, but about proving to myself that I had overcome five years of sacrifices and had become stronger and more self-aware“.

She concludes her testimony with a reflection on the meaning of beauty, shaped in part by her experience with scoliosis: “I believe that beauty also comes from a person’s inner depth, their story, and the strength with which they face life’s challenges“

Lavinia’s story highlights not only a significant clinical improvement, but also the value of a rehabilitation journey during which she continued to nurture her passions and pursue her goals. Through her participation in the World Rehabilitation Alliance’s Champions Programme, her experience may now help raise international awareness of the tangible impact rehabilitation can have on people’s quality of life.