Scoliosis: An Introduction

A normal spine looks straight, without much deviation from side-to-side, when the body is looked at from behind.Scoliosis is a condition that is often associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.This condition often gives the appearance of the patient leaning to one side but it should not be confused with poor posture. Scoliosis is a troublesome deformity that is characterized by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra oftentimes producing a characteristic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is produced by the vertebrae in the region of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their connected ribs posterior thus causing the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, greater than 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be interfered with. Frequently later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients, this amount of curve and resulting cardiac and pulmonary changes can be life threatening.

Anatomy

The spine reveals four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral, all of which are observable from a side view of the trunk. The thoracic, in the chest area, has a normal round curve, “reversed C,” called a kyphosis, while in the lower spine there is a normal “C” curve, known as swayback or lordosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe heightened swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Scoliosis changes generally accompany alterations from normal on a side view. Postural exercises can eliminate some round back deformities that are simply due to unhealthy posture. A small percentage of people with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are seen in conjunction with vertebral deformity. This class of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much harder to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

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

• One shoulder may be raised than the other.

• One scapula (shoulder blade) may be higher or more conspicuous than the other.

• With the arms hanging relaxed at the sides, there may be more room between the arm and the body on one side.

• One hip may look to be raised or more pronounced than the other.

• The head is not centered over the pelvis.

• One side of the back appears more raised than the other when the individual is analyzed from the rear and asked to flex forward until the the spine is horizontal.

Once scoliosis is identified, the child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further assessment. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

There are various origins and many types of scoliosis, however the most common, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for about 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is witnessed with equal prevalence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. This disorder can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent cases, depending upon the age of onset. Idiopathic Scoliosis often runs in families and may be due to genetic or hereditary influences. For reasons yet to be found, girls are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves grow in size and require treatment. The most common time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are ending the last major growth spurt. It is smart to have this age group observed by a professional on a regular basis because young people are hesitant to permit their body to be viewed by parents or other adults.

If a scoliotic curve is observed in the growing adolescent, it is crucial that the curves be monitored for advancement by periodic examination and from time to time standing X-rays. In ninety percent of conditions, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, though| increases in spinal deformity necessitate evaluation to ascertain if a brace or other treatment is required. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be required.~Surgery may be necessary for a small number of individuals.

Brace support (orthosis) is recommended for newly-found conditions of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis, as well as when an increase in scoliosis or kyphosis is observed in both juvenile and adolescent children. There are many kinds of braces, all created to prevent curves from increasing through the process of acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Bracing is effective in preventing curve progression in an impressive number of skeletally-immature adolescents. But, braces will not usually make the spine entirely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing.

Scoliosis has no simple answer. The majority of cases, even though often 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.

Specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments are among the complementary modalities used in addition to bracing. It looks as if the most effective results have been supported with a multi-faceted approach to the treatment of this affliction.

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