Archive for June, 2009
Can Chiropractic Treatment Help Scoliosis?
Scoliosis an Introduction
A normal spine appears straight, without much disparity from one side to the other, 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.The affliction shouldn’t be confused with poor posture, even though it often gives the appearance that the patient is leaning to one side. Defined by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra, this troublesome deformity often produces a distinctive “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is caused by the vertebrae in the region of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their attached ribs posterior thereby causing the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. The pulmonary and cardiac functions can be obstructed if the thoracic curve and rib rotation is greater than 70 degrees. This amount 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 you were to look at the trunk from a side view, the spine would disclose four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. In the lower spine there is a natural “C-shaped” curve called swayback or lordosis, while the thoracic curve in the chest area has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe increased swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Alterations from normal that are visible from a side view regularly accompany scoliosis changes. Occasionally round back deformities are simply due to poor posture and can often be corrected with postural exercises. A small portion of patients with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are associated with vertebral deformity. This type 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 fully-grown individual with scoliosis simply by observing the person in a standing position, preferably bare-chested and in boxers, and observing the following:
- One shoulder may be raised than the other.
- One scapula (shoulder blade) may be raised or more conspicuous than the other.
- With the arms hanging freely at the sides, there may be more area between the arm and the body on one side.
- One hip may appear to be raised or more pronounced than the other.
- The head is not in plumb with the pelvis.
- One side of the back appears more elevated than the other when the individual is observed from the rear and asked to lean forward until the the spine is horizontal.
The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further diagnosis once scoliosis is detected. your chiropractor would be happy to help.
There are a variety of causes and many kinds of scoliosis, nevertheless the most common, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which 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. This affliction can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent categories, depending upon the age of onset. Idiopathic Scoliosis often runs in families and may be caused by 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 general time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are ending the last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are disinclined to permit their body to be viewed by parents and other adults, so it is smart to have this age group viewed on a regular basis.
It is very important that if a scoliotic curve is discovered in a growing adolescent, the curves be monitored for any change by a 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 decide if a brace or other management is required. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be necessary.~Surgery may be required for a small number of individuals.
Brace treatment (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is observed, or when new symptoms of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are diagnosed. There are quite a few styles of braces, all created to prevent curves from increasing by acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Bracing is effective in halting curve progression in an impressive portion of skeletally-immature adolescents. But, braces will not usually make the spine perfectly straight, and cannot always keep a curve from progressing.
There is no simple resolution for scoliosis. The majority of cases, even though frequently monitored, are not actively treated. Severe symptoms are infrequently treated surgically, but the standard medical treatment for moderate cases is a brace. 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 therapies offered in addition to bracing. It looks as if the most beneficial results have been sustained with a multi-faceted approach to the care of this affliction.
There are chiropractors, that have excellent success assisting with scoliosis conditions.