Scoliosis is a very serious medical condition in which someone’s spine develops an abnormal curve from side to side. When viewed through x-rays from the back, the spine of a person who has scoliosis appears in the shape of an S or a C as opposed to a straight line. Scoliosis can be classified in 3 ways:
- Congenital – caused by vertebral anomalies and present at birth
- Idiopathic – while the cause is unknown, can be classified by when it occurred (juvenile, infantile, adolescent, or adult)
- Neuromuscular – this occurs when the scoliosis develops as a symptom of another condition like spinal muscular atrophy, cerebral palsy, physical therapy or spinal bifida
All in all, scoliosis affects nearly 7 million people in the U.S. alone!
Sings and Symptoms of Scoliosis
Once an individual reaches “skeletal maturity”, they are less likely to have a worsening case of scoliosis. However, sever cases can put pressure on the heart, restrictphysical activity and even diminish lung capacity. Some of the common signs of scoliosis include:
- Uneven leg length or hips
- Uneven musculature on one side of the spine
- A prominent shoulder blade or rib, usually caused by the rotation of the ribcage (in thoracic scoliosis)
- Slow nerve action
- In females, asymmetric location or size of the breast
Chiropractic care can help
A chiropractor will examine your overall health, checking your spine as well as other aspects of your lifestyle. In order to identify the cause of the problem, a chiropractor will review any previous injuries, recreational or work related activities, and your family’s history of health issues. They will also run orthopedic, palpitation, neurological tests and x-rays to determine how serious the problem is.
There are also some scoliosis exams such as the Adam’s Forward Bending Test, which has
been adopted in most schools. It requires the person to bend at the waist as someone views
the spinal alignment. If the administrator recognizes something abnormal, you will usually be referred to a chiropractor. At this point, your chiropractor will measure the length of your legs to better understand the unevenness. Sometimes, a range of motion test will also be performed to check the mobility at the waist. If your chiropractor determines that there is a serious issue, they might recommend you to a specialist for specific, scoliosis treatment.
When dealing with scoliosis, regular visits to your chiropractor are imperative to monitoring the progression of this condition. Scoliosis is a very serious condition, and can be treated in many different ways in order to restore normal functionality and alleviate pain. Should you have any questions about scoliosis, pain or physical limitations, consult your chiropractor today!
Dr. David Tuchinsky practices in Weston, Florida - His address is 17160 Royal Palm Boulevard - Suite 1 - Weston, Florida - His telephone number is 954-895-7896. Feel free to call to schedule a free consultation with the Doctor.
