Anatomy

If a person were to look at the trunk from a side view, the spine would disclose four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. In the lower spine there is a healthy “C-shaped” curve called swayback or lordosis, while the thoracic curve in the chest region has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Increased kyphosis in the thoracic area is called hyperkyphosis, while increased swayback is termed, hyperlordosis. Scoliosis changes frequently accompany diversions from normal on a side view. A few round back deformities are simply due to bad posture and can often be resolved with postural exercises. A small percentage of individuals with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are associated with vertebral deformity. This type of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more problematic to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Even a layman can help to identify a child or adult with scoliosis just by observing the person in a standing position, preferably with no shirt and in boxers, and observing the following:

* One shoulder may be more elevated than the other.

* One scapula (shoulder blade) may be raised or more prominent than the other.

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

* One hip may appear to be raised or more conspicuous than the other.

* The head is not centered over the pelvis.

* When the person is observed from the rear and asked to bend forward until the spine is horizontal, one side of the back seems higher than the other.

The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further assessment once scoliosis is identified. 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 about 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is seen with equal occurrence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. Depending on the age of onset, this condition can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent categories. Idiopathic scoliosis may be caused by genetic or hereditary influences as it frequently runs in families. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves grow in size and require treatment. The most general time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are completing the last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are reluctant to allow their body to be looked at by parents and other adults, so it is very important to have this age group viewed on a regular basis.

It is very important that if a scoliotic curve is discovered in a growing adolescent, the curves be monitored for any change by a periodic examination and on occasion standing x-rays. In ninety percent of conditions, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, however increases in spinal deformity necessitate evaluation to decide if a brace or other therapy is necessary. In a small number of individuals, surgical treatment may be needed.~Surgery may be required for a small number of people.

Brace therapy (orthosis) is recommended for newly-diagnosed conditions of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis, as well as when an increase in scoliosis or kyphosis is discovered in both juvenile and adolescent children. There are a number of kinds of braces, all designed to prevent curves from increasing through acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Braces generally won’t make the spine completely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. However, bracing is effectual in preventing curve progression in a very large percentage of skeletally-immature adolescents.

There is no simple resolution for scoliosis. Nearly all cases, even though frequently monitored, are not actively treated. The usual medical treatment for moderate conditions is a brace, whereas severe cases are sometimes treated surgically. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

Along with bracing, many other modalities have been used successfully like specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments. It looks as if the most beneficial results have been supported with a multi-faceted approach to the treatment of this abnormality.

There are chiropractors, that have years of experience managing scoliosis cases.

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