Scoliosis: An Introduction
A normal spine is straight, without much disparity from side-to-side, when the body is viewed from behind. But, if the spine is observed to have a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature, the individual might have a disorder called scoliosis.This disorder frequently gives the appearance of the individual leaning to one side although it should not be confused with unsatisfactory posture. Scoliosis is a puzzling deformity that is characterized by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra often producing a distinctive “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is caused by the vertebrae in the area of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their fastened ribs posterior thus creating the symptomatic rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. The pulmonary and cardiac functions can be interfered with if the thoracic curve and rib rotation is greater than 70 degrees. Often later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients, this degree of curve and subsequent cardiac and pulmonary changes can be life threatening.
Anatomy
If one were to observe the trunk from a side view, the spine would disclose four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. The thoracic, in the chest vicinity, has a healthy round curve, “reversed C,” called a kyphosis, while in the lower spine there is a healthy “C” curve, known as swayback or lordosis. Increased kyphosis in the thoracic area is called hyperkyphosis, while increased swayback is termed, hyperlordosis. Alterations from normal that are visible from a side view regularly accompany scoliosis changes. Some round back deformities are simply due to poor posture and can often be resolved with postural exercises. A small percentage of people with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are coincidental with vertebral deformity. This type of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more difficult to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.
Even a layman can help to identify a child or grownup with scoliosis merely by observing the person in a standing position, preferably with no shirt and in shorts, and observing the following:
- One shoulder may be more elevated than the other.
- One scapula (shoulder blade) may be raised or more pronounced 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 centered over the pelvis.
- When the person is viewed from the rear and asked to flex forward until the spine is horizontal, one side of the back appears more elevated than the other.
The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further assessment once scoliosis is detected. your chiropractor would be happy to help.
There are various roots and many varieties of scoliosis, however the most common, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for about 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is seen with equal occurrence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. This condition 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 due to genetic or hereditary influences. For reasons yet to be found, girls are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves develop in size and require treatment. The most general time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are finishing the last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are hesitant to let their body to be seen by parents and other adults, so it is wise to have this age group examined on a regular basis.
It is vital that if a scoliotic curve is found in a growing adolescent, the curves be monitored for any development by a periodic examination and on occasion standing x-rays. In ninety percent of conditions, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, however increases in spinal deformity require evaluation to decide if a brace or other therapy is required. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be needed.~Surgery may be necessary for a small number of individuals.
Brace treatment (orthosis) is recommended for newly-found conditions of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis, as well as when an increase in scoliosis or kyphosis is identified in both juvenile and adolescent children. There are quite a few kinds of braces, all created to prevent curves from increasing through the process of acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Bracing is effectual in halting curve progression in a significant number of skeletally-immature adolescents. But, braces generally won’t make the spine entirely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing.
There is no simple solution for scoliosis. The majority of cases, even though often monitored, are not actively treated. Severe conditions are occasionally treated surgically, but the standard medical treatment for moderate symptoms 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 a number of modalities provided along with bracing. It appears that the best results have been maintained with a multi-faceted approach to the care of this condition.
There are chiropractors, that have years of experience treating scoliosis conditions.
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