Scoliosis – an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine – is one of those conditions that many
of you have likely heard about, but are probably not aware of the pain and health dangers it
can cause. June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month, and so it is a time of the year devoted
to education, detection, and awareness of scoliosis. Therefore, let’s take this opportunity to
learn what chiropractors can do for those who have this condition.
First- what is scoliosis? Normally, when looking at the spine from the front to the back of an
individual, our spines should be straight up and down. However, scoliosis is an abnormal
sideways curve that can occur anywhere in the spine, most commonly occurring in the mid-
back (thoracic) spine. An estimated 7 million Americans suffer from this abnormal curvature of
the spine. However, 90% of scoliosis patients have a spinal curvature that is not severe enough
to require surgery, yet can still cause problems because of how it affects the body’s anatomy.
When the spine is curved to one side, it compresses the spinal discs on one side, causing those
vertebrae to rub against each other. This unnatural position can strain your joints and pinch
your nerves, leading to chronic back pain, muscle spasms, and trigger points that may even
refer pain to other areas of the body. Eventually, without the proper amount of cushion
between them, the vertebrae may even develop painful bone spurs and arthritis.
However, scoliosis pain is not only limited to your spinal column. Increasing spinal curvature in
severe cases can result in breathing difficulty and reduced lung capacity as well as pressure on
the digestive system as the thoracic cavity is compressed. In milder cases, scoliosis may not be
easily noticed by the person or their family. That is why detecting scoliosis early in children is
especially important because some forms of scoliosis keep progressing.
As doctors of chiropractic- we have a detailed knowledge of musculoskeletal issues, conditions,
and disorders which makes us experts in detecting early signs of scoliosis. Through careful
evaluation as well as a comprehensive physical examination- we can help identify early changes
leading to scoliosis. Signs that may help us identify scoliosis include:
Clothes that seem to hang unevenly
One shoulder blade which is higher or protrudes out more than the other
Uneven hips
Abnormalities or asymmetries when bending
Difficulty breathing because of a reduced area in the chest for lungs to expand
Early or chronic back pain or muscle spasms.
Some or many of these signs may indicate early curvature changes which we would then
confirm with other diagnostic tests such as x-rays of MRI’s.
What Do Chiropractors Do to Help Treat Scoliosis?
It is important to realize that Scoliosis is a treatable condition. However, it is not curable. Much
like other chronic health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, scoliosis can be
managed- especially when caught early. Unfortunately, traditional medical scoliosis treatments
usually involve sitting on the sideline and re-x-raying a patient every six months waiting for the
condition to worsen. And then- treatment typically involves bulky spinal braces or spinal
surgery.
Chiropractic care however, offers a more holistic and proactive alternative. Studies have
shown that chiropractic treatment can improve pain, spinal curvature, and disability from
scoliosis in adolescence and adults over the long term. This is especially true when chiropractic
care is combined with other scoliosis treatments like exercise and special stretches. By
combining spinal realignment from chiropractic care with muscle-strengthening exercises and
stretches to support your new spinal alignment, scoliosis can be managed.
So- feel free to ask us any questions you may have and as always- we would be happy to
evaluate you or your children at any time to see if there are any signs of early scoliosis. The
sooner it is identified- the better the chance of keeping it under control and reducing the need
for more drastic treatments!