Scoliosis Causes and Concerns
Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary defines scoliosis as "lateral curvature of the spine. Usually consists of two curves, the original abnormal curve and a compensatory curve in the opposite direction." There are 16 subdefinitions depending on the way the scoliosis was acquired. Is scoliosis a serious condition? Can it be helped? What if it’s ignored? Let’s take a look.
The spinal column is made up of 24 freely and separately moving vertebrae. From the side there are three normal curves. When there’s a curve from side to side, we’re commonly told there’s some degree of scoliosis. This diagnosis is usually made when this curve is exaggerated. Scoliosis usually begins in childhood and has advanced its furthest by age 18. Research indicates girls are eight times more likely to acquire scoliosis than boys and five times more likely to require some form of treatment.
There are two main forms of scoliosis-functional and structural. Functional scoliosis is associated with muscle spasm or tightness and may pull the vertebrae out of place. Structural scoliosis is different because the vertebrae are actually stuck in that position without the direct correlation to the muscles.
Only 10 to 15 percent of scoliosis cases are traceable to a specific cause or disease; the other 85 to 90 percent are termed idiopathic, meaning have no known cause. Recent research has shown only 10 percent of those cases will worsen over time, which is only 0.2 percent of the total number of cases.
How does chiropractic play in this condition? Chiropractors are the highest trained professional in the detection and treatment of vertebral subluxation. When a vertebrae is subluxated, it pinches on a nerve, causing one of many problems. In addition, the vertebrae above and below the subluxated area may shift in a compensatory role and further complicate a scoliosis. Freeing movement at each segmental level keeps the spine flexible, making the scoliosis less likely to progress.
Chiropractic adjustments may help to level the pelvis and sacrum in the low back, which can decrease the scoliosis. Chiropractic adjustments can also help fight the muscle spasm in functional scoliosis, and this may result in a complete reversal of the scoliosis, allowing for straightening of the spine.
Structural scoliosis can be more complicated. In younger patients, the progress of the scoliosis may be decreased with chiropractic adjustments. Once the patient has reached skeletal maturity, this may not be the case. In older patients with structural scoliosis, chiropractic adjustments are important to remove vertebral subluxations, which may cause many problems, including decreased immune response and pain.
Chiropractic adjustments were shown to produce long-term prevention of back pain and possibly reduce curve progression when used routinely one or two times a month. This is according to a recent study released by the journal JMPT. Even as far back as 1958, studies have shown scoliosis can affect the spinal nerves, and in one instance, found stomach ulcers were attributed to scoliosis between the sixth and ninth thoracic vertebrae.
Scoliosis can be a very serious condition and can lead to serious problems if not detected early and treated accordingly. There’s help for scoliosis. A regular chiropractic care program can help with management of the pain associated with scoliosis, as well as decreasing the chance of further problems. TPW
The spinal column is made up of 24 freely and separately moving vertebrae. From the side there are three normal curves. When there’s a curve from side to side, we’re commonly told there’s some degree of scoliosis. This diagnosis is usually made when this curve is exaggerated. Scoliosis usually begins in childhood and has advanced its furthest by age 18. Research indicates girls are eight times more likely to acquire scoliosis than boys and five times more likely to require some form of treatment.
There are two main forms of scoliosis-functional and structural. Functional scoliosis is associated with muscle spasm or tightness and may pull the vertebrae out of place. Structural scoliosis is different because the vertebrae are actually stuck in that position without the direct correlation to the muscles.
Only 10 to 15 percent of scoliosis cases are traceable to a specific cause or disease; the other 85 to 90 percent are termed idiopathic, meaning have no known cause. Recent research has shown only 10 percent of those cases will worsen over time, which is only 0.2 percent of the total number of cases.
How does chiropractic play in this condition? Chiropractors are the highest trained professional in the detection and treatment of vertebral subluxation. When a vertebrae is subluxated, it pinches on a nerve, causing one of many problems. In addition, the vertebrae above and below the subluxated area may shift in a compensatory role and further complicate a scoliosis. Freeing movement at each segmental level keeps the spine flexible, making the scoliosis less likely to progress.
Chiropractic adjustments may help to level the pelvis and sacrum in the low back, which can decrease the scoliosis. Chiropractic adjustments can also help fight the muscle spasm in functional scoliosis, and this may result in a complete reversal of the scoliosis, allowing for straightening of the spine.
Structural scoliosis can be more complicated. In younger patients, the progress of the scoliosis may be decreased with chiropractic adjustments. Once the patient has reached skeletal maturity, this may not be the case. In older patients with structural scoliosis, chiropractic adjustments are important to remove vertebral subluxations, which may cause many problems, including decreased immune response and pain.
Chiropractic adjustments were shown to produce long-term prevention of back pain and possibly reduce curve progression when used routinely one or two times a month. This is according to a recent study released by the journal JMPT. Even as far back as 1958, studies have shown scoliosis can affect the spinal nerves, and in one instance, found stomach ulcers were attributed to scoliosis between the sixth and ninth thoracic vertebrae.
Scoliosis can be a very serious condition and can lead to serious problems if not detected early and treated accordingly. There’s help for scoliosis. A regular chiropractic care program can help with management of the pain associated with scoliosis, as well as decreasing the chance of further problems. TPW