What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is defined as a lateral curve of the spine. This means that when we stand behind somebody and look at the spine it appears to curve to the left and to the right.
Many researches distinguish between a functional scoliosis, which is the result of muscle spasm or leg-length differences, and a structural scoliosis which refers to a more rigid scoliosis that maintains its shape through all movement.
How scoliosis develops is poorly understood and it seems likely that this confusion will continue for quite some time. As chiropractors we are interested in certain specific aspects of Scoliosis:
1. Is the curve affecting the bodies structure to the point that it is interfering with function? For example: it is very common that the rib movement becomes jammed up and starts to affect a patient’s lung capacity. Simple chiropractic adjustments can really help to increase the mobility of the ribs in the tension area.
2. Is the curve progressing or is it staying stable? A curve that is progressing in a growing child is more of a concern than a slightly larger, but stable curve. Scoliosis tends to affect 7 times as many females than males for reasons that are not clear. Scoliosis is usually measured by something known as a Cobb angle. This is a universally accepted method by most used by doctors to assess the extension of the curve. The Cobb angle is illustrated in the diagram below.
A Cobb angle that exceeds 40 degrees is usually considered as severe scoliosis.
3. Can a cause for the curve be identified?
Is the scoliosis a functional adaption due to an injury in a disc, pelvic distortion or length inequality, or is it more structural and does it persist through the normal range of movement.
Chiropractic Management of Scoliosis
Not all scoliosis requires treatment. A very mild case often has no bearing on a person’s well-being; a slightly bent tree still does a pretty good job of being a tree. The most important thing is to get a proper evaluation of the scoliosis in the first place.
An x-ray is usually a very important tool in the evaluation of scoliosis. This allows your chiropractor to measure it accurately and also helps determine what might be causing a change in the natural curve. Many forms of simple functional scoliosis can be treated by using a small heel lift to raise the pelvis back to a more neutral position.
In more advanced cases it is often necessary to perform a series of treatments and work in conjunction with a good physiotherapist who provides corrective and stabilizing exercises. Unfortunately, it is not realistic to think that chiropractic treatment alone can straighten a severe case of scoliosis. Nevertheless, chiropractic is very important in managing a more serious scoliosis situation.
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