A TEENAGER has fought a crippling spinal condition to allow her to follow her dream of becoming a ballet teacher.

Hannah Martyn practised dancing up to five times a week before she was told at the age of 16 that her spine was rapidly curving to the right due to a condition called scoliosis.

For Hannah, the diagnosis felt like a life sentence of pain and discomfort and the only treatment was major surgery to insert metal rods into her spine before it is fused to make it solid - a move that would drastically reduce her flexibility.

“Scoliosis completely took over my life. I felt like everyone was staring at my back all the time and I lost nearly all of my self-confidence,” said Hannah, who is from Leigh and attends Apple Dance Centre.

“I love dancing, it is something I use to express myself. So when I was told that I needed to have major surgery which would dramatically reduce my flexibility, I was left in pieces.”

Hannah was told that without the surgery she would struggle to walk in years to come, but her family then discovered an alternative, non-surgical treatment provided by Scoliosis SOS.

“I was slightly sceptical. I did not understand how exercises would make such a big difference to my back. But having had the treatment I believe in it 100 per cent. The difference in my posture is obvious,” said the 19-year-old.

“I am looking forward to getting back to dance classes and completing my exams so that I can teach other young girls what I am totally passionate about.”