According to the National Scoliosis Foundation, it is now estimated that well over 4 million cases of scoliosis are diagnosed each year in the United States. These statistics represent about 2 to 3 percent of the U.S. population on average.
Scoliosis has some telltale symptoms that include uneven shoulders, waist and hips that may be evident in visual differences, clothes hanging unevenly on one side along with other symptomologies like difficulty breathing, pain due to muscle spasms that could make back pain chronic in nature and others.
Chiropractors that have a strong background and hands-on skills for dealing with scoliosis can be an important treatment option that can help decrease some of the common symptoms of scoliosis such as pain by implementing specific chiropractic spine and other body area adjustments and with some exercises and physical therapy treatments too like deep muscle tissue massage and use of natural and less invasive therapies.
What Exactly Is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis has been named the most common of spinal disorders. It is accompanied with either an S or C shaped curvature or curves noted along the spine and can be pinpointed with the usual symptoms like clothes hanging differently on one side of the body, differences in hip and shoulder alignment that can be mild and almost unnoticed or severe being readily apparent with the naked eye.
Furthermore, scoliosis is often diagnosed immediately before or during puberty usually after a recent growth spurt. This spinal abnormality is usually looked for at a school physical to ensure an accurate and prompt diagnosis so treatments can begin quicker.
Is There a Cure for Scoliosis?
At the present time, there is no cure for scoliosis. However, there are certainly many effective treatments and procedures that can help these patients lead better and more fulfilling lives and reduce some of the most problematic and life-altering symptoms. Chiropractic care has become a popular and effective treatment option for many.
Possible Causes of Scoliosis Explained
The vast majority of scoliosis cases occur from no known cause. However, some cases of scoliosis accompany other health disorders, like tumors that put pressure on the spine and other body areas and musculoskeletal disorders such as MS, MD, and other muscle and nerve-related problems impacting the spine and key body posture and support regions.
There are some rarer cases of scoliosis that appear to be congenital and are diagnosed while still in the womb. Certain aging factors can bring on symptoms of scoliosis like brittle bones, back, and shoulder-related disorders or injuries and more. Being overweight and having a poor nutritional status may all play a factor in scoliosis symptoms and severity.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Scoliosis?
There are some telltale symptoms and signs that help healthcare professionals come to a proper diagnosis of scoliosis. As stated above, school physicals specifically look for this curvature of the spine and other symptomology in order to catch the beginning stages of this spine disorder. This is because the onset of symptoms typically begins around the time of puberty in children and teens aged 10 to 15 on average.
Some common scoliosis symptoms include:
- Back & Joint Pain in Affected Body Areas – Back, Shoulders, Hips etc.
- Uneven Shape & Line of Shoulders, Hips and Waist Especially During & After Puberty
- A Telltale S or C Shaped Spine Curvature or Curvatures That Can Be Mild to Severe
- Difficulty Breathing
- Clothes Hanging Unevenly Often on One Side of the Body
- Difficulties with Movement & Mobility – Degree of Spine Curvature Impacts Disabilities a Person May Have
- Some Scoliosis Cases Are Linked to Other Occurring Health Disorders like MS, Muscle Related and/or Nerve Disorders & Muscular Dystrophy Among Others
- Rare Cases Involve Spinal Lesions or Certain Tumors That Impact the Spine Areas
- Some Scoliosis Cases Diagnosed Later in Life Can Be Due or Connected to Aging
- Rarely, Scoliosis Can Occur in the Womb Being Congenital in Nature
Scoliosis Can Have a Negative Impact on Quality of Life & Well-Being Status
Scoliosis limitations and symptoms can be mild to serious in nature. The degree of the spine curvature and related concurring symptoms may negatively impact the person’s overall quality of life in general and can cause decreased self-esteem and other negative emotional and mental distress impacting well-being.
What Are the Available Treatments for Scoliosis These Days?
The treatments for scoliosis include wearing of body braces to help correct or stabilize spine, back, hips and shoulders depending on the degree and placement of curvature. Other treatments involve surgeries and may require several throughout a lifetime. Certain medications may help relieve pain and other discomforts when indicated.
Lately, more healthcare professionals are on-board with concurrent scoliosis chiropractic care treatments and/or physical therapies that may include therapeutic massage techniques and various muscle and skeletal strengthening exercises and stretches.
Possible Scoliosis Symptoms That May be Helped with Chiropractic Care
Many scoliosis patients prefer getting the type of holistic and more natural forms of treatment that chiropractors can provide. These treatments can help relieve pain and discomforts without the use of addictive and strong pain narcotics for some. Others achieve enough pain relief to at least decrease needed pain or other strong medications commonly prescribed for these patients.
Other ways that chiropractic treatments may help scoliosis symptoms include:
- Education for Exercises & Stretches Designed to Strengthen, Support & Balance Main Spine & Musculoskeletal Areas
- Moves & Spinal or Other Body Area Chiropractic Measure May Help Support Impacted Joints
- Therapies to Reduce or Prevent Scoliosis Related Muscle Spasms & Pressure on Key Body Regions
- May Help Improve Overall Breathing
- Can Recommend Treatments to Do at Home to Reduce or Prevent Symptomology like Appropriate Rest & Other Activities That Won’t Worsen Overall Symptoms
- May Help Improve Walking, Sitting, Posture & Other Activities of Daily Living
Seeking out reliable and effective chiropractic care for scoliosis-related symptoms and pain relief can be an important treatment addition that many people with scoliosis find helpful. Chiropractors can recommend many non-invasive treatment measures like diet and nutrition guidance, breathing exercises and more treatments that can reduce or eliminate the need for strong pain medications and/or other more serious or risky surgical or other treatment methods.
To learn more about chiropractic treatments and scoliosis by Denver Chiropractic please give us a call at (303) 455-2225 or set up an appointment.