Costa Mesa Chiropractic wants you to know about as much as possible about scoliosis and how chiropractic care can help.

Introduction: A normal spine looks straight, without much change from side-to-side, when the body is viewed from behind. However, if the spine is observed to have a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature, the individual might have an affliction called scoliosis.This affliction often gives the appearance of the person leaning to one side though it should not be confused with unsatisfactory posture. Scoliosis is a troublesome deformity that is expressed by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra often producing a characteristic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is caused by the vertebrae in the area of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their fastened ribs posterior thus causing the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. The pulmonary and cardiac functions can be impeded if the thoracic curve and rib rotation exceeds 70 degrees. Frequently later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients, this intensity of curve and consequential cardiac and pulmonary changes can be life threatening.

Anatomy: If a person were to view the trunk from a side view, the spine would disclose four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. The thoracic, in the chest vicinity, has a healthy round curve, “reversed C,” called a kyphosis, while in the lower spine there is a normal “C” curve, known as swayback or lordosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe elevated swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Scoliosis changes regularly accompany alterations from normal on a side view. Some round back deformities are simply due to bad posture and can often be eliminated with postural exercises. A small portion of individuals with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are seen in conjunction with vertebral deformity. This class of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more difficult to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Almost anyone can help to identify a child or adult with scoliosis merely by looking at the person in a standing position, preferably without a shirt and in briefs, and observing the following:

• One shoulder may be more elevated than the other.

• One scapula (shoulder blade) may be more elevated or more pronounced than the other.

• With the arms hanging loosely at the sides, there may be more space between the arm and the body on one side.

• One hip may look to be higher or more conspicuous than the other.

• The head is not aligned with the pelvis.

• One side of the back appears more elevated than the other when the individual is observed from the rear and asked to bend forward until the the spine is horizontal.

The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further assessment once scoliosis is detected. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

There are a variety of origins and many varieties of scoliosis, however the most prevalent, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for nearly 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is observed with equal occurrence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. This condition can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent types, depending upon the age of onset. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be due to genetic or hereditary influences as it commonly runs in families. For reasons yet to be found, girls are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves develop in size and require treatment. As the term “Idiopathic Scoliosis” implies, this kind of scoliosis usually happens when children are completing their last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are reluctant to let their body to be seen by parents and other adults, so it is very important to have this age group observed on a regular basis.

It is crucial that if a scoliotic curve is observed in a growing adolescent, the curves be monitored for any development by a periodic examination and sometimes standing x-rays. In ninety percent of cases, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, however increases in spinal deformity necessitate evaluation to determine if a brace or other treatment is required. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be necessary.~Surgery may be needed for a small number of individuals.

Brace therapy (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is identified, or when new symptoms of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are diagnosed. There are a number of styles of braces, all made to prevent curves from increasing by acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Braces normally will not make the spine completely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. Nevertheless, bracing is effective in preventing curve progression in a significant number of skeletally-immature adolescents.

Scoliosis has no simple resolution. The majority of cases, even though regularly monitored, are not actively treated. Severe cases are occasionally treated surgically, but the standard medical treatment for moderate cases is a brace. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

In addition to bracing, many other therapies have been used successfully including specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments. It appears that the most beneficial results have been sustained with a multi-faceted approach to the care of this condition.

There are chiropractors, that have years of experience assisting with scoliosis symptoms.

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Tags: back pain, chiropractor, scoliosis