A normal spine is straight, without much change from one side to the other, when the body is looked at from behind.Scoliosis is a disorder that is generally associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.The condition shouldn’t be confused with unsatisfactory posture, although it oftentimes gives the appearance that the person is leaning to one side. Scoliosis is a puzzling deformity that is expressed by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra often producing a distinctive “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is produced by the vertebrae in the area of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their attached ribs posterior thus producing the symptomatic rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. The pulmonary and cardiac functions can be impeded if the thoracic curve and rib rotation is more than 70 degrees. Oftentimes 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 a person were to observe the trunk from a side view, the spine would display four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. In the lower spine there is a normal “C-shaped” curve called swayback or lordosis, while the thoracic curve in the chest region has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Increased kyphosis in the thoracic area is called hyperkyphosis, while increased swayback is termed, hyperlordosis. Scoliosis changes regularly accompany alterations from normal on a side view. A few round back deformities are simply due to unhealthy posture and can often be resolved with postural exercises. A small portion of individuals with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are seen in conjunction with vertebral deformity. This class of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much harder to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Even a layman can help to identify a child or fully-grown individual with scoliosis just by observing the person in a standing position, preferably with no shirt and in , and observing the following:

• One shoulder may be raised than the other.

• One scapula (shoulder blade) may be higher or more pronounced than the other.

• There may be more space between the arm and the body on one side when the arms hang relaxed at the side.

• One hip may seem to be more elevated or more pronounced than the other.

• The head is not centered over the pelvis.

• One side of the back appears higher than the other when the individual is analyzed from the rear and asked to flex forward until the the spine is horizontal.

The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further evaluation once scoliosis is suspected. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

There are various roots and many kinds of scoliosis, nevertheless the most prevailing, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for about 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is witnessed with equal frequency in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. Depending on the age of onset, this condition can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent cases. Idiopathic Scoliosis often runs in families and may be due to genetic or hereditary influences. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves grow in size and require treatment. The most general time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are ending the last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are hesitant to allow their body to be seen by parents and other adults, so it is wise to have this age group viewed on a regular basis.

It is crucial that if a scoliotic curve is discovered in a growing adolescent, the curves be monitored for any change by a periodic examination and on occasion standing x-rays. In ninety percent of cases, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, though| increases in spinal deformity require evaluation to determine if a brace or other management is needed. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be needed.~Surgery may be necessary for a small number of patients.

Brace therapy (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children when an increase in their scoliosis or kyphosis is identified, or when new conditions of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis are found. There are quite a few styles of braces, all created to prevent curves from increasing by acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Bracing is effectual in stopping curve progression in a very large number of skeletally-immature adolescents. However, braces normally will not make the spine entirely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from progressing.

Scoliosis has no simple resolution. Nearly all cases, even though frequently monitored, are not actively treated. Severe cases are infrequently treated surgically, but the general 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 many modalities offered besides bracing. It looks as if the best results have been maintained with a multi-faceted approach to the care of this condition.

There are chiropractors, that have expertise managing scoliosis conditions.

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Anatomy

If one is to observe the trunk from a side view, the spine will demonstrate four normal curves, the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral. The thoracic or chest area has a normal round back called a kyphosis, while in the lower spine there is a swayback, or lordosis. Increased kyphosis in the thoracic area is correctly called hyperkyphosis while increased swayback is termed hyperlordosis. Changes from normal on a side view frequently accompany scoliosis changes. Some round back deformities are simply due to bad posture can often being corrected with postural exercises. A small percentage of patients with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are associated with vertebral deformity. This type is called Scheuermann’s kyphosis and is much more difficult to treat than postural kyphosis. Its cause is unknown.

A layman can even help to identify a child or person with scoliosis by simply observing the person in the standing position, preferably with out a shirt and in their underpants, and observing the following:
One shoulder may be higher than the other.
One scapula (shoulder blade) may be higher or more prominent than the other.
With the arms hanging loosely at the side, there may be more space between the arm and the body on one side.
One hip may appear to be higher or more prominent than the other.
The head is not centered over the pelvis.
When the patient is examined from the rear and asked to bend forward until the spine is horizontal, one side of the back appears higher than the other.

Once identified, the child should be sent to a health-care professional such as a chiropractor for further evaluation.

There are many different causes and varieties of scoliosis but by far the most common is Idiopathic scoliosis and accounts for about 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means no known cause and is seen with equal frequency in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. This disorder can be sub classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent types, depending upon the age of onset. Idiopathic scoliosis frequently runs in families and may be due to genetic or hereditary influences. However girls, for unknown reasons, are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves increase in size and require treatment. The most frequent time for the development of Idiopathic scoliosis is during adolescence when children are completing the last major growth spurt. At this age young people are reluctant to allow their bodies to be seen by parents and other adults so it is very important to have this age group examined on a regular basis.

If a scoliotic curve is found in the growing adolescent, it is very important that the curves be monitored for change by periodic examination and some times standing X-rays. In ninety percent of cases, the scoliosis are mild and do not require active treatment though increases in spinal deformity require evaluation to determine if brace or other treatment is required. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be needed.

Brace treatment (orthosis) is recommended for both juvenile and adolescent children observed to be increasing with their scoliosis or kyphosis and newly identified cases of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis. There are many types of braces, all designed to prevent curves from increasing by acting as a buttress for the spine to prevent the curve from increasing during active skeletal growth. Braces will not usually make the spine perfectly straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. However, bracing is effective in halting curve progression in a significant percentage of skeletally immature adolescents.

There is no simple solution for scoliosis. The majority of cases though often monitored are not actively treated. The standard medical treatment for moderate cases is a brace where the severe cases are sometimes corrected surgically.

Besides bracing many other methods have been used including specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments. It seems that the best results have been maintained with a multifactorial approach to the management of this condition.

There are chiropractors that are specializing in these cases though most chiropractors are familiar with the scoliosis cases.

Technorati Tags: chiropractic care, scoliosis, Tampa Chiropractor