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Scoliosis is a lateral
curvature of the spine, usually in an ‘S’ shape with the convex to the
right in the upper back and to the left in the lower back. Most people
have slight scoliotic curves as a result of slight structural
abnormalities, trauma, or subluxation. These
curves will straighten when that person bends forward or from side to side
and are called “functional scoliosis”. True or “structural scoliosis” is
usually a more dramatic curvature which does not straighten with movements
of the spine. This condition affects from 1-5% of children ages 10 to 14
(60-80% of which are female). Scoliosis predisposes individuals to back
pain, headache, and other posture-related disorders. In rare, severe
cases, the curvature can lead to difficulty breathing or heart problems
due to a lack of space from the deformed ribcage. A scoliosis is
classified based on an angle measurement taken from a full spine x-ray.
Medical practitioners will typically not intervene until a curve has
progressed beyond 20 degrees. Medical interventions include bracing and
surgery. The effectiveness of bracing is in question and the debate is
currently quite vigorous. Wearing a brace affects appearance, creating
self-esteem issues and limits ability to participate in activities.
Compliance of 23 hours a day tends to be low, and the effectiveness for
scoliosis measuring 15-35 degrees has been shown to be minimal at best.
Surgery for scoliosis is a highly invasive procedure, which is usually
only utilized for very rare cases which progress rapidly and inhibit organ
function.
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Scoliosis
Chiropractic and Scoliosis