Overview of Scoliosis of the Spine

Scoliosis of the spine is a medical condition that arises when the spine is curved from side to side. In other words, it’s not symmetric when viewed from the front. If you take an X-Ray of the spine from the anterior, it can be seen to be an “S” shape or a “C” shape (in either direction).

Scoliosis is a major problem to the lifestyles of a not insignificant percentage of the population. The severity varies with the degree of curvature and can cause problems ranging from extreme pain to dis figuration of the body.

Causes of Scoliosis of the Spine

Scoliosis can arise from many causes that are not well understood. It can be congenital from birth, or it can be what doctors call “Idiopathic” – meaning that it they have a little bit of understanding of the cause, but not much. It can develop in adolescence or in adulthood due to a trauma as well. In some cases, the spine is not only asymmetric, but also rotated, a condition known as Rotoscoliosis.

Diagnosis

Scoliosis can be suspected when there is significant pain around the spinal area. Other conditions to look for are uneven musculature development around the spine due to the asymmetry as the muscles try and conform themselves to the shape of the spine. Also, a common condition is that either the shoulder, the hips or the breasts (for women) are not of the same height.

Treatment

Braces

Younger patients who still have bone growth left, are outfitted with braces that cover their torso and prevent the condition from worsening, as often happens. With infants and those born with the condition if treated early, it has been shown that scoliosis of the spine can be completely halted. However even with braces, patients have a much higher chance of success with a chiropractor and spinal decompression.

Surgery

For those whose spinal curvature exceeds 40 degrees, surgery is an option. Straightening of the spine is achieved at the cost of flexibility since most surgeries rely on fusion of the vertebrae. Each situation is different and complications can arise due to the age of the patient, the degree of curvature, and rotational aspects.

Spinal Decompression

Chiropractors are able to treat scoliosis using joint mobilization techniques. Also, since patients suffering from spinal scoliosis are subject to early disc degeneration, spinal decompression allows the discs to heal themselves. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that non invasive chiropractic techniques significantly improve the efficacy of traditional methods and improve the flexibility and strength of the spinal joints.

Summary

All in all, scoliosis of the spine can be treated with mixed results. However, chiropractic therapy and spinal decompression increase the chances of success and it is highly recommended that patients enroll with one of our doctors in order to ensure maximum efficacy.