A normal spine looks straight, without much disparity from side-to-side, when the body is viewed from behind. Therefore, if the spine is seen to have a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature, the person might have a condition called scoliosis.This condition many times gives the appearance of the person leaning to one side but it should not be confused with bad posture. Characterized by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra, this puzzling deformity often causes a characteristic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is caused by the vertebrae in the zone of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their fastened ribs posterior thereby producing the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. The pulmonary and cardiac functions can be obstructed if the thoracic curve and rib rotation is more than 70 degrees. This intensity of curve and consequential cardiac and pulmonary changes are frequently seen later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients and, more often than not, present a threat to life.

Anatomy

If a person were to view 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 elevated swayback is termed, hyperlordosis. Scoliosis changes generally accompany alterations from normal on a side view. Some round back deformities are simply due to bad posture and can often be resolved with postural exercises. A small percentage of individuals with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are associated with vertebral deformity. This kind of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more difficult to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Almost anyone can help to identify a child or grownup with scoliosis just by looking at the person in a standing position, preferably with no shirt and in briefs, 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.

• With the arms hanging freely at the sides, there may be more space between the arm and the body on one side.

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

• The head is not in plumb with the pelvis.

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

Once scoliosis is identified, the child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further assessment. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

The most common class of scoliosis is, by far, Idiopathic, and even though there are various roots and many types, Idiopathic Scoliosis accounts for nearly 85% of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is witnessed with equal occurrence 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 types. Idiopathic Scoliosis commonly runs in families and may be caused by genetic or hereditary influences. For reasons yet to be found, girls are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves develop in size and require treatment. The most frequent time for the development of Idiopathic Scoliosis is during adolescence when children are finishing the last major growth spurt. It is a good idea to have this age group viewed by a professional on a regular basis because young people are reluctant to permit their body to be looked at by parents or other adults.

If a scoliotic curve is discovered in the growing adolescent, it is very important that the curves be monitored for advancement by periodic examination and sometimes standing X-rays. In ninety percent of instances, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, but increases in spinal deformity demand evaluation to ascertain if a brace or other treatment is necessary. In a small number of people, surgical treatment may be required.~Surgery may be needed for a small number of individuals.

Brace support (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 diagnosed. There are quite a few kinds of braces, all designed to prevent curves from increasing through acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Bracing is effective in halting curve progression in a very large percentage of skeletally-immature adolescents. Nevertheless, braces generally won’t make the spine completely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing.

Scoliosis has no simple solution. Most cases, even though often monitored, are not actively treated. The standard medical treatment for moderate instances is a brace, whereas severe afflictions in some cases are treated surgically. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

Specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments are among many treatments offered along with bracing. It seems like the most effective results have been maintained with a multi-faceted approach to the care of this condition.

There are chiropractors, that have excellent success assisting with scoliosis conditions.

Technorati Tags: back pain, chiropractor, scoliosis

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, Colorado Springs Chiropractor, scoliosis