Flashback from the eighties – a girl wearing a full back brace for scoliosis and trying to get a sip of water from a drinking fountain. At the time it was painfully funny and not so far fetched. Unfortunately the event was even more real for the 5 to 7 million people in the United States, especially girls between the ages of 10 and 15, who suffered with the curvature of the spine and the burdensome prevalent treatment of the time. Thank goodness! Times and advanced technologies have changed in the way we are able to treat the curvature of the spine known as scoliosis.
Understanding Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a general term that is used to describe a progressive lateral (sideways) spinal curvature which is greater than 10% from the vertical that can affect the entire skeletal system including the spine, ribs, and pelvis. Less than 10 degrees may simply be the result of postural changes. Scoliosis is often divided into two categories: idiopathic and functional.
Idiopathic scoliosis often involves changes in the development of spinal bones, where the normal development of a spinal vertebra should be more square. The spine with idiopathic scoliosis may be trapezoidal (shorter on one side as compared to the other). Eighty percent of the time, the cause of this type of scoliosis remains unknown. In the other cases, the condition will be the result of some form of trauma, neurological disease, tumor, or similar. With patients with significant changes in bone structure it is impossible to correct this type of spinal curvature. However, case management of the scoliosis is equally important.
Functional scoliosis patients will show normal development of the bony structures of the spine and the orientation of the vertebra tends to be within the normal ranges of movement. Most often the curvature in the spine was created by postural shifts, muscle spasms, or leg-length inequality. This type of scoliosis responds extremely well with chiropractic care and can often achieve a full correction. Most importantly, identification and diagnosis of scoliosis early is imperative for the best corrective outcomes and as it can affect virtually every system of the body.
Symptoms of Scoliosis
Scoliosis can cause pain, and impair lung function or heart function. It can also lead to psychological problems such as poor self-esteem, especially because it so often happens at an age when peer pressure is at its most powerful. With 4 out of 5 scoliosis sufferers, the spinal curvature is less than 20 degrees, and this is not normally visible to the untrained eye. Provided these cases do not appear to be worsening, there is no great cause for alarm. However, as children and adolescents have bodies that are still growing, mild curvatures can bend by a further 10 degrees or more in a matter of months. For this reason, evaluations should be made frequently. These evaluations are extremely important for pre-pubescent girls with a curvature of at least 25 degrees, who have not yet menstruated for the first time. As there is relatively fast growth in the year before the first period, it follows that any curvature will also progress quickly. After the first period, this progression of the spinal curvature slows down but will take longer to correct as each year passes.
Evaluation for Scoliosis
Scoliosis is evaluated by conducting a detailed family history and a physical examination that includes postural analysis. If a curvature is detected, further investigation is required to establish if there is any obvious cause of the problem, such as a birth defects or any prior injury. X-rays are a useful tool when the curvatures are pronounced, to check more thoroughly on the structure of the spine, and if the scoliosis is impinging upon anything else. The wrist is also often x-rayed because this is used to assess the patient’s skeletal age, as a barometer of where that person is in relation to the accepted norm, and for monitoring the progression of the condition. X-rays may be recommended from once every 3 to 4 months, to once every few years, depending on the doctor’s feelings about the possible rate of progression.
Treatment for Scoliosis
Today the treatment option which is showing the most promise is a combination of spinal adjustments or manipulation, therapeutic exercise, electrical muscle stimulation, and in some cases traction. These can be especially helpful to anyone whose scoliosis is causing them spinal pain such as lower back pain, neck pain and also headaches. Generally, exercise is both advocated and well-tolerated for patients with scoliosis. Most importantly, it should be remembered that most people who have scoliosis lead their lives no differently to anyone else, however, as their spine is exposed to increased levels of strain mechanically it is important to ensure that extra efforts are made to help keep the spine healthy. Chiropractic care is a leader in the field of a great method of ensuring spinal health.
We Can Help!
Our expert team led by a qualified chiropractor has been created to work with the patient that has scoliosis to achieve improved health overall, while addressing the scoliosis rather than just treating the scoliosis. This multi-faceted approach has shown the greatest results in long term success in managing and correcting scoliosis. Be sure to discuss with your chiropractor the various methods which are available for improving scoliosis to find the method that will work best for you.
For Your Health,
Dr. Patrick Chenoweth