Scoliosis: How It’s Diagnosed and How It Can Be Treated With Chiropractic Care

Scoliosis… it’s a condition that affects between five and seven million Americans. When you look at the spine, it should be aligned up and down. However, a scoliosis spine has a side to side curve to it, causing it to look like a “C” or “S” letter.

Scoliosis is not the same as lordosis (swayback) or kyphosis (humpback), as these are spine curves that go from front to back. Scoliosis, regardless of what people think, isn’t just a posture issue; despite the fact these sufferers tend to lean one side or the other. With scoliosis, the spine excessively curves, the vertebrae rotate, leading to a rib hump in the middle. This could also cause the hips or shoulders to appear uneven.

About 85 percent of all scoliosis cases are idiopathic, which means there’s no known cause for the disease. It’s generally noticed in childhood and can occur in both boys and girls. Some scoliosis cases have been caused by some spine degenerative diseases or osteoporosis. It would appear that scoliosis is a genetic condition, running in families. However, it’s not known why scoliosis curves grow five to eight times more in girls than in boys.

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How Scoliosis Can Be Treated?

A mild case of scoliosis needs no intervention. However, if the curve begins to grow (to about 60 degrees), then braces, surgery or other kinds of treatment may be necessary. It’s not possible to treat scoliosis with posture adjustment.

Braces

If braces are implemented while young, the braces can be extremely effective in keeping the curves from growing and negating any surgical need in the future. Keep in mind that braces are not completely able to bring the spine back to its “normal” shape. Therefore, it’s possible for a curvature to increase despite the brace.

Surgery

Surgery needs to be regarded as the final resort to treat scoliosis, as it is painful, costly and means tremendous amount of adjustments in one’s lifestyle. Surgery, on the other hand, is a very effective method in decreasing curvature.

Chiropractic Care

Undergoing chiropractic care can be helpful in decreasing the spinal curves, lessening the pain and reducing disability.

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How Scoliosis Is Diagnosed?

But, in order for it to be successful, there’s a multi-model approach that must be used. There are numerous ways in which a scoliosis diagnosis is given:

• Medical history
• X-rays
• Adam’s Forward Bending Test
• Range of motion tests
• Limb measurements

Along with braces, treatment could involve a range of things:

• Spinal manipulations and adjustments
• Electrical stimulation
• Shoe lifts

Using spinal manipulation along with postural therapy can increase a successful outcome. Chiropractors know all about spine problems, and don’t use surgery or drugs to solve them. They will look over your physical condition, and review your family history, medical history, lifestyle and your health. These things can cause scoliosis. They’ll also come up with treatment plan that’s right for you.

This condition isn’t treatable in one visit. In fact, multiple visits for a long period of time is the only surefire way to see any positive results. An experienced chiropractor will keep an eye on your progress and talk with other healthcare professionals to ensure your treatment has the best outcome possible.

For further information visit Montgomery County Chiropractic and take advantage of the new patient special offer.