Mild to severe forms of scoliosis occur in up to five percent of the population and is mainly seen in female children, ages 8 to 14. Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine and can result in spinal curvature that can affect a persons ability to move or breathe properly. It begins as a posture distortion, but if allowed to advance, can interfere with the lungs, heart and other vital organs. This is why early detection and treatment of scoliosis can make all the difference in a child’s life.
Chiropractic Treatment for Scoliosis
Scoliosis has three main causes:
- Congenital — genetic predisposition
- Habitual — behavioral routines
- Idiopathic — unknown cause
No matter the cause, chiropractic care can help improve this condition. Our chiropractor will not only examine your spine, but also looks at your overall health and lifestyle factors. Then to identify a possible cause, they will go over previous injuries, symptoms, your family’s medical history and activities you participate in.
Many parents worry that chiropractic adjustments will be too forceful for children and teens with scoliosis. However, it is important to remember that adjustment techniques are modified for each person’s size, age and unique spinal problem. In our office we use crackless adjusting techniques such as KST, and SOT. Our chiropractors treat patients of all ages from infants to grandparents, and focus on making the adjustments gentle. In fact, many of our patient’s parents have reported almost instant improvement in the well-being of their child.
How Treatment and Correction Works
Chiropractic treatment of scoliosis often consists of spinal, pelvic, and even cranial adjustments or manipulations, in addition to exercise and postural counseling. The goal of these treatments are to reduce pain, straighten the patients’ spine and stop the progression of spinal curvature. Seeking chiropractic care is a good first step in scoliosis treatment because it can often prevent the need for surgery.
As a non surgical treatment for scoliosis, our chiropractor will manipulate the body to loosen ligaments and tendons. We will also do a spinal re-adjustment, to help retrain muscles to hold the correct position. Our chiropractors will also often prescribe exercises that will strengthen the neck and back of the patient. These exercises help prevent injuries, muscle deterioration and pain, and promote flexibility and stability in the joints.
If you would like to learn more from our chiropractors about treatment for scoliosis, you can make an appointment or schedule a consultation and we’ll be happy to answer all of your questions!