Scoliosis
 Many times when I meet new patients in my office, I find that they may not have been aware that they have a case of scoliosis until I show them their X-rays which demonstrate a secondary curvature of their spine.
When it comes to scoliosis, it can be very misleading. The traditional concept of scoliosis is an extreme curved spine which results in an obvious crooked frame. Many people do not know that scoliosis or a form of scoliosis can be found in a huge number of the population and can go undetected. There are essentially two types of scoliosis: a functional scoliosis and a true scoliosis.
A true scoliosis is usually inherited and begins from a very young age as the spine develops. A secondary curvature of the spine develops or a part of the vertebrae do not form causing the “S-shape” of the spine. This type of scoliosis is best detected at a young age so that treatment options are more successful than when the spine is fully formed.
A functional scoliosis is a secondary curvature of the spine that develops after some type of injury or trauma of the spine. In some cases it might be a knee or ankle injury that impacts the height of the hips and therefore affects the pelvis and spine. A functional scoliosis can also occur because of a significant shorter leg length on one side which can cause a shift in the pelvis and the spine. Symptoms of either scoliosis can include any or all of the following:
- Postural imbalances such as a hip, shoulder, or pelvis sitting higher on one side than the other
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Pain in the upper back, neck and lower back region
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Sciatica (pain down the leg)
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Breathing difficulties or congestion in the lungs
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Bowel or bladder abnormalities (most likely present in severe cases)
Treatment of scoliosis depends on the nature of the case as well as the age of the patient. If a young child is correctly diagnosed with scoliosis many options are available such as bracing, physical therapy and chiropractic treatments. Some cases of scoliosis where the curvature is extreme, surgery might be the only option for the survival of a patient. Many cases of scoliosis in children before the age of 15 have been very successful treated with chiropractic adjustments and exercises. Once the growth period slows down, correcting true scoliosis becomes more challenging by noninvasive methods.
When an adult presents with true scoliosis, treatment options become more limited in terms of correction. Often times, the scoliosis in an adult will be permanent however the pain and decreased motion can be minimized and managed through regular chiropractic treatments.
Functional scoliosis in adults is more manageable and treatable. Some options include chiropractic adjustments of the spine, hips and pelvis to minimize the curvature. Other options may also include evaluation of the foot and ankle and inserting a lift if a shorter leg is present.
The best advice to patients with scoliosis is to get their spine checked for management of symptoms and to have their children checked to avoid pain and diminished quality of lives in the future.
Call our office, Haque Chiropractic Livermore, today at (925) 960-1960 for a Scoliosis exam appointment to check your child. |
