Scoliosis Treatment

Scoliosis is when your spine curves abnormally to one side, forming an “S” or “C” shape. It commonly begins in children as they hit a growth spurt. About one in 30 children will end up developing scoliosis. While it might not begin as a painful condition, it can eventually lead to severe back pain and poor posture. Scoliosis treatmentcan include using a brace to stabilize the spine and prevent further curvature. Additionally, spinal manipulations and exercises to strengthen the weak side of the back are a great tool for realigning the spine correctly.

Scoliosis Treatment in Dallas TX

Scoliosis is an abnormal curving of the spine. Your spine is your backbone. It runs straight down your back. Everyone’s spine naturally curves a tiny bit. But people with scoliosis have a spine that curves too much. The spine might look like the letter “C” or “S.” Posture Perfect Doctors specialize in the treatment of postural disorders such as Scoliosis. A physical Exam including X-rays is needed to properly diagnose this condition and see how the patient’s spine is curved, a treatment plan is then specifically created for that patient in order to correct the curve and improve the patient’s posture and biomechanical function.

Who has Scoliosis?

Everyone that has a spine has postural changes due to their lifestyle but scoliosis is different than just poor posture. People of all ages can have scoliosis. There are two types of scoliosis Functional and Idiopathic. The most common type is idiopathic scoliosis in children age 10 to 12 and in their early teens. This is the time when children are growing fast. Girls are more likely than boys to have this type of scoliosis. Scoliosis can run in families. A child who has a parent, brother, or sister with idiopathic scoliosis should have regular checkups by the family doctor.

What Causes Scoliosis?

In most people with scoliosis, the cause is not known. In some cases, there is a known cause. Unfortunately our society always has to have things immediately. For example – We want our babies to be able to walk as quickly as possible, by the age of 5 we are already putting our kids in classrooms where they are trained to sit for hours a day in improper positions. Our kids and we usually carry schoolbags and other heavy object improperly. All of these examples can attribute to spinal degeneration and postural alterations including making your scoliosis worse. We have this misunderstanding of what good posture is and how to deal with poor posture for our entire lifetime, hence we have a society that is retiring and spending their final years dealing with Back pain, Postural changes, Orthotics, Surgeries, Wheelchairs and other devises to move around in. It would be so much easier if we didn’t take our lives for granted and started taking a proactive approach to our health and wellness which includes posture. Prevention is key.

Doctors classify curves as:

• Nonstructural, which is when the spine is structurally normal and the curve is temporary. In these cases, the doctor will try to find and correct the cause.
• Structural, which is when the spine has a fixed curve. The cause could be a disease, injury, infection, or birth defect.

How Is Scoliosis Diagnosed?

Doctors use a medical and family history, physical exam, and tests when checking a person for scoliosis. An x ray of the spine can help the doctor decide if a person has scoliosis. The x ray lets the doctor measure the curve in degrees (such as 25 degrees) and see its location, shape, and pattern.

How Is Scoliosis Treated?

Treatment for scoliosis is based on:

• The person’s age
• How much more he or she is likely to grow
• The degree and pattern of the curve
• The type of scoliosis.

The doctor may recommend Chiropractic or Osteopathic Manipulations, Observation, Bracing, or Surgery.

Observation:

The doctor will check every 4 to 6 months to see if the curve is getting better or worse. Observation is used for those who have a curve of less than 25 degrees and are still growing.

Bracing:

Doctors may advise wearing a brace to stop a curve from getting worse. Bracing may be used when:

• The person is still growing and has a curve of more than 25 to 30 degrees.
• The person is still growing and has a curve between 20 and 29 degrees that is getting worse.
• The person has at least 2 years of growth remaining and has a curve that is between 20 and 29 degrees. If a girl, she should not have started having her monthly periods yet.

Surgery:

Doctors use surgery to correct a curve or stop it from getting worse when the person is still growing, the curve is more than 45 degrees, and the curve is getting worse. Surgery often involves fusing together two or more bones in the spine. The doctor may also put in a metal rod or other device. These devices are called implants. They stay in the body and help keep the spine straight after surgery.

Can Chiropractic Help?

Chiropractic treatment has been shown to keep scoliosis from getting worse. In Functional cases Chiropractic care with proper exercises greatly improved the patient’s condition and has even been able to reduce the curves and improve discomfort if any.