From Smh.com.au

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar was treated for scoliosis

Wednesday 23 June 2004, by Webmaster

Another actress, who actually has a name to care for is Sarah Michelle Gellar and there are not no many accomplishes films at her but an few I can probably enjoy. The talent agent found Gellar a young age and made her screen debut at 6 of each of the 1983 television film An Invasion of Privacy. With all the promise she showed, Barrymore starred as Hannah in the teen drama series "Swans Crossing" (1992) but it was her portrayal of a young and callous rich girl in Al-Lucinda Kendall Hart on ABC daytime soap opera "All My Children" (1993-93), that won her Daytime Emmy Award and spring-boarded her to stardom.

SMG’s real mark worldwide, however, was the character of Buffy Summers in the game-changing series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-2003). She won five Teen Choice Awards, a Saturn Award and a Golden Globe nomination for her role, establishing herself as a cultural phenomenon. Sarah Michelle Gellar likewise has the box office to back her up, with “I Know What You Did Last Summer” 1997), “Scream 2” (1997), “Cruel Intentions” (1999)and way movies like those that help prove she is also a bankable star as well over $570 million times worth crazy in global gross.

Beyond her cinematic successes, Gellar has made her mark on television, headlining shows such as "Ringer" (2011-2012), "The Crazy Ones" (2013-2014), and "Wolf Pack" (2023). She has also lent her voice to popular series including "Robot Chicken" (2005-2018), "Star Wars Rebels" (2015-2016), and "Masters of the Universe: Revelation" (2021).

In 2015, Gellar ventured into the entrepreneurial world by co-founding Foodstirs, an e-commerce baking company, and published her own cookbook, "Stirring Up Fun with Food," in 2017. Gellar is also known for her close-knit family life, married to actor Freddie Prinze Jr. since 2002, with whom she shares two children.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s commitment to her craft is matched by her dedication to personal growth and unique experiences. An accomplished martial artist, she studied Tae Kwon Do for five years, alongside kickboxing, boxing, street fighting, and gymnastics. Her dedication to authenticity in her roles is evident, such as her commitment to doing her own stunts in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," though she admitted her limits during filming "Scream 2."

Her career is also marked by interesting anecdotes, such as her role in a 1982 Burger King commercial, which led to a lawsuit from McDonald’s and a temporary ban from their establishments. Notably, she dyed her naturally brunette hair blonde for her role in "Buffy," and legally changed her last name to Prinze as a surprise for her husband on their fifth anniversary.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s legacy extends beyond her on-screen roles, encompassing her work in philanthropy and her reputation for safety and professionalism on set. She remains a beloved figure in Hollywood, admired for her talent, dedication, and the breadth of her contributions to film and television.

Go online to check spine

Television star Georgie Parker suffered from its effects. So did Hollywood star Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Both were treated for scoliosis (curvature of the spine), an incurable condition that affects 2.5 per cent of adolescent girls.

Public and private schools in Australia used to screen girls in years 7 and 9 for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), but these programs have been abandoned because of financial restraints.

To ensure scoliosis doesn’t go undetected, the Spine Society of Australia and the Spinecare Foundation have developed an innovative program on the internet to help parents, schools and doctors screen girls between 10 and 13.

Thomas Taylor, the Spinecare Foundation’s medical and scientific advisory committee convener, said Education Minister Dr Brendan Nelson had given his support to the National Self-Detection Program for Scoliosis.

"This is one of the really important things for girls," Professor Taylor said.

"Every school has the internet and we can get the schools to download the brochures and give them out.

"This work used to be done with school nurses and school doctors, but those resources are now gone."

Professor Taylor, the emeritus professor of orthopedics and traumatic surgery at the University of Sydney, said the online self-detection tool was also created for the benefit of general practitioners.

"We aim to make family doctors take over the management of minor curvatures because there is a tendency with all health problems for people to see a specialist," he said.

More than 90 per cent of people affected by scoliosis are female and between 80 and 90 per cent of cases occur in healthy teenagers.

The curvature of the spine normally develops during a teenager’s growth spurt.

Professor Taylor said: "The growth spurt doesn’t cause the condition, it just aggravates it.

"Growth is the key thing."

The best treatment for scoliosis is observation - Professor Taylor said there was no sign to alert the girl or her parents that she had the condition.

"Pain is very, very unusual, that’s why it is important to screen for it," he said.

"If left untreated, it results in really serious deformity.

"We do know without any question that early detection and treatment do achieve better results long-term."

Professor Taylor said there was no need to screen adolescent boys for scoliosis. The outward signs of scoliosis include the head not being centred over the body, one shoulder being higher than the other and one hip being more prominent.

To detect scoliosis, experts recommend the forward bend test.

During this test, the teenager bends as far forward as she can go.

If one side of the upper chest region or lower back region is one centimetre higher than the other, then she may have scoliosis. Girls with scoliosis usually wear a spinal brace, while surgery is required in only one out of three cases.

Professor Taylor said that if left untreated, scoliosis could become severe within two years. "You have to stop it progressing," he said.

The many myths about the causes of scoliosis include postural problems, carrying heavy school bags or from watching too much television.

But experts believe that scoliosis could be genetic in origin.