Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a progressive, lateral curvature of the spine. Normally, when viewed from the side the spine should have curves, but when viewed from the front it should be straight. In scoliosis the spine is curved even on the front view.

The most common type is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. “Idiopathic” means “of unknown origin”, although recent research suggests there is often a genetic factor affecting the control of spinal growth. Scoliosis can affect both children and adults. In children it can be more serious because it can progress rapidly as the child grows.

Scoliosis is usually first seen in children between the ages of 10 and 15, but it can occur in younger children and even babies. It can also develop in adults with no previous history, due to spinal degeneration and advancing age. The effects of scoliosis include poor posture, shoulder humping, muscle weakness and pain. If detected and treated early, patients can often avoid these symptoms; if left untreated, scoliosis can sometimes require surgery.

Chiropractic treatment of scoliosis

Conservative treatments have the best result when the condition is detected early and treated with appropriate, proven methods. By combining treatments into a program tailored to each patient and adjusted according to response, it is often possible to avoid more unpleasant, expensive and invasive options. A program may include:

• Specific chiropractic adjustments designed to correct dysfunction of skeletal structures and reduce torsion in the spine
• Foot orthotics and heel lifts to level the pelvis
• Exercises to address balance, coordination and body awareness, and to stretch the muscles around the curves
• Nutritional support

Chiropractic care for scoliosis can be very effective, especially in the early stages. The program requires commitment from the patient and their family, but when undertaken enthusiastically it has the potential to prevent the need for much more drastic treatment later on.