Scoliosis: An Introduction
When the body is seen from behind, a normal spine is straight without much disparity from side-to-side.Scoliosis is a condition that is often associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.The condition shouldn’t be confused with unsatisfactory posture, although it frequently gives the appearance that the patient is leaning to one side. Scoliosis is a complicated deformity that is expressed by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra often producing a distinctive “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is created by the vertebrae in the zone of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their attached ribs posterior thereby causing the symptomatic rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, exceeding 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be interfered with. This degree of curve and consequential cardiac and pulmonary changes are frequently seen later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients and, quite frequently, present a threat to life.
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. The thoracic, in the chest vicinity, has a healthy round curve, “reversed C,” called a kyphosis, while in the lower spine there is a healthy “C” curve, known as swayback or lordosis. Increased kyphosis in the thoracic area is called hyperkyphosis, while elevated swayback is termed, hyperlordosis. Diversions from normal that are visible from a side view regularly accompany scoliosis changes. A few round back deformities are simply due to poor posture and can often be corrected with postural exercises. A small portion of people with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are coincidental 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 nonprofessional can help to identify a child or adult with scoliosis simply by looking at the person in a standing position, preferably bare-chested and in briefs, and observing the following:
- One shoulder may be raised than the other.
- One scapula (shoulder blade) may be more elevated or more pronounced than the other.
- There may be more space between the arm and the body on one side when the arms hang freely at the side.
- One hip may look to be higher or more prominent than the other.
- The head is not in plumb with 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 suspected, the child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further evaluation. your chiropractor would be happy to help.
The most prevailing class of scoliosis is, by far, Idiopathic, and although there are various causes and many kinds, Idiopathic Scoliosis accounts for nearly 85% of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is seen with equal prevalence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. Depending on the age of onset, this disorder can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent categories. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be due to genetic or hereditary influences as it often runs in families. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves increase in size and require treatment. The most frequent time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are finishing 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 disinclined to allow their body to be looked at by parents or other adults.
If a scoliotic curve is discovered in the growing adolescent, it is vital that the curves be monitored for development by periodic examination and from time to time standing X-rays. In ninety percent of cases, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, however increases in spinal deformity require evaluation to ascertain if a brace or other management is needed. In a small number of individuals, surgical treatment may be required.~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 observed in both juvenile and adolescent children. There are quite a few 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 perfectly straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. However, bracing is effectual in halting 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 conditions in some cases are treated surgically. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.
Along with bracing, many other methods have been used successfully such as specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments. It looks as if the best results have been supported with a multi-faceted approach to the care of this affliction.
There are chiropractors, that have years of experience treating scoliosis symptoms.