Scoliosis – what is it?

Scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine that often gets started in childhood, when the bones of the spine are still growing. In many cases, the exact cause of scoliosis is unknown.

Scoliosis is detected by uneven shoulder heights, uneven hip heights, uneven ear heights, muscles that appear more pronounced on one side of the spine versus the other, or from a change in posture.

Scoliosis is more often seen in girls than in boys although it should be looked for in both genders in pre-adolescence and adolescence.

It is believed that scoliosis is the result of a hereditary problem or an adaptation to some type of trauma, such as an injury like falling off a bicycle and it often starts with problems in either the lower back or the middle back.

Because spines continue to grow through the late teens, if left uncorrected, scoliosis will often become worse over time.

Regular chiropractic examinations can reveal small problems before they become serious and, if detected early enough, scoliotic curves may be reduced or eliminated with chiropractic care and appropriate exercise.

Unfortunately, the most common medical treatment approach with scoliosis has been to watch and wait to see if the curves progress at more than 3 degrees a year or to more than 30 degrees before there is any medical intervention. Typically medical care entails either unsightly braces, or, if the curves become severe enough, surgery, where metal rods are used spinally to attempt to straighten the curve.

The chiropractic approach is to use specific spinal adjustments, usually combined with corrective exercises. If detected early enough, our patients have generally had excellent success with scoliosis care.

Contact our office today to set up an appointment with one of our doctors to have scoliosis evaluated and a treatment plan created to minimize your scoliosis risks today.

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