Scoliosis Treatment
Chiropractic care for scoliosis
If your child has uneven shoulders or hips, they may be experiencing a spinal curvature called scoliosis. If left untreated, this could result in lifelong issues after the spine has stopped growing and has settled into a deformed structure.
Chiropractic intervention for scoliosis treatment can help:
Chiropractic intervention for scoliosis treatment can help:
Manage Pain
Monitor Spinal Curve
Increase Activity
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine occurring most often during a child's growth spurt before puberty. It can be caused by conditions like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, but the cause of most scoliosis cases is unknown. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 3% of adolescents have scoliosis (Source).
Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some spine deformities can become more severe and disabling as children grow. Children with scoliosis are monitored closely to determine if their spinal curve is worsening. Increased spinal curvature can result in breathing difficulty and reduced lung capacity.
If the curve progression reaches a certain point, there may be surgical intervention. A majority of scoliosis cases are not severe enough for surgery but still cause day-to-day pain for patients.
Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some spine deformities can become more severe and disabling as children grow. Children with scoliosis are monitored closely to determine if their spinal curve is worsening. Increased spinal curvature can result in breathing difficulty and reduced lung capacity.
If the curve progression reaches a certain point, there may be surgical intervention. A majority of scoliosis cases are not severe enough for surgery but still cause day-to-day pain for patients.
How effective is chiropractic treatment
for scoliosis?
Chiropractic treatment can provide pain relief and improve the quality of life for people with scoliosis, especially in cases that are non-surgical. Many adults living with scoliosis benefit from a chiropractor's drug-free, non-invasive treatment options.
Chiropractic adjustments decrease pressure on the nervous system and strengthen your body's core. When it comes to scoliosis treatment, chiropractors can also recommend:
Studies have shown that chiropractic care reduces pain and increases the range of motion for scoliosis patients (Source).
Chiropractic adjustments decrease pressure on the nervous system and strengthen your body's core. When it comes to scoliosis treatment, chiropractors can also recommend:
- Strengthening exercises to support joints
- Ways to move and rest that can minimize or relieve pain
- Movements to stay active without increasing symptoms
Studies have shown that chiropractic care reduces pain and increases the range of motion for scoliosis patients (Source).
Diagnosing scoliosis early in life
It is important to find and diagnose scoliosis at a young age because some forms continue to progress over time. The comprehensive physical exam our chiropractors provide to new patients can help identify scoliosis.
We lookout for the following symptoms:
Medical professionals rely on observation, bracing, and in some cases surgery to monitor and prevent the curve from increasing. Utilizing chiropractic care in the early stages allows parents to explore non-invasive, low-cost scoliosis treatment options for their children.
We lookout for the following symptoms:
- Clothes that seem to hang unevenly
- Uneven shoulders
- One shoulder blade appears more prominent
- Uneven hips
- Difficulty breathing because of a reduced area in the chest for lungs to expand
- Chronic back pain or muscle spasms.
Medical professionals rely on observation, bracing, and in some cases surgery to monitor and prevent the curve from increasing. Utilizing chiropractic care in the early stages allows parents to explore non-invasive, low-cost scoliosis treatment options for their children.
Treatment options for scoliosis
Observation is the most common treatment option for scoliosis. Many children will not have curves that progress past 25 or 30 degrees and will never need to wear a brace. These cases require evaluation two to three times a year to ensure the condition doesn't worsen.
Children with spinal curves larger than 25 degrees, but still smaller than 50 degrees, will usually require a brace as part of their scoliosis treatment. Bracing attempts to stop the curve from progressing to the point of requiring spinal fusion surgery. Braces are prescribed to be worn for a certain amount of hours in the day.
Surgical treatment is reserved for patients with curves greater than 50 degrees or who are in danger of further deterioration even after finishing growth. Of the 7 million cases of scoliosis, the majority do not result in surgery.
Children with spinal curves larger than 25 degrees, but still smaller than 50 degrees, will usually require a brace as part of their scoliosis treatment. Bracing attempts to stop the curve from progressing to the point of requiring spinal fusion surgery. Braces are prescribed to be worn for a certain amount of hours in the day.
Surgical treatment is reserved for patients with curves greater than 50 degrees or who are in danger of further deterioration even after finishing growth. Of the 7 million cases of scoliosis, the majority do not result in surgery.
Observation
Bracing
Surgery
Integrating chiropractic care into
scoliosis treatment
A chiropractor can work with your family physician to provide an integrative approach to your child's scoliosis treatment. Especially for children in the observation stage where their spine is still developing, chiropractic treatment can provide a non-invasive solution.
For scoliosis cases with higher curvatures, bracing will be a component of treatment facilitated by your chiropractor. A doctor of chiropractic may also utilize mirror-image adjustments, low-velocity adjustments, traction, and more to pull the spine back into alignment.
Chiropractic care provides customized scoliosis treatment depending on each case. For children, this can be early diagnosis and continued observation. For adults, this can be chronic pain management.
Adding chiropractic care to your scoliosis treatment can help with:
If you are ready to set up a consultation for yourself or your child, we are here to help.
For scoliosis cases with higher curvatures, bracing will be a component of treatment facilitated by your chiropractor. A doctor of chiropractic may also utilize mirror-image adjustments, low-velocity adjustments, traction, and more to pull the spine back into alignment.
Chiropractic care provides customized scoliosis treatment depending on each case. For children, this can be early diagnosis and continued observation. For adults, this can be chronic pain management.
Adding chiropractic care to your scoliosis treatment can help with:
- Reduced pain and discomfort
- Improved range of motion and flexibility
- Decreased inflammation
- Increased activity and lifestyle
If you are ready to set up a consultation for yourself or your child, we are here to help.