Good News For Those Suffering From Scoliosis
September 29th, 2009 | by admin |Scoliosis: An Introduction
A normal spine looks straight, without much disparity from laterally, when the body is seen from behind.Scoliosis is a disorder that is generally associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.This condition often gives the appearance of the patient leaning to one side though it should not be confused with unsatisfactory posture. Scoliosis is a troublesome deformity that is characterized by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra often producing a characteristic “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 fastened ribs posterior thereby causing the distinctive rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. If the thoracic curve and rib rotation are severe, exceeding 70 degrees, pulmonary and cardiac function can be interfered with. This amount of curve and subsequent cardiac and pulmonary changes are oftentimes seen later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients and, quite frequently, present a threat to life.
Anatomy
If one were to look at 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 vicinity has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe heightened swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Alterations from normal that are visible from a side view generally accompany scoliosis changes. A few round back deformities are simply due to bad posture and can often be resolved 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 class of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much harder to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.
Almost anyone can help to identify a child or fully-grown individual with scoliosis simply by looking at the person in a standing position, preferably bare-chested and in shorts, and observing the following:
- One shoulder may be more elevated than the other.
- One scapula (shoulder blade) may be more elevated or more conspicuous than the other.
- There may be more area between the arm and the body on one side when the arms hang freely at the side.
- One hip may look to be higher 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.
Once scoliosis is detected, the child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further evaluation. your chiropractor would be happy to help.
There are various causes and many kinds of scoliosis, but the most prevalent, by far, is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which accounts for nearly 85 % of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is seen with equal occurrence in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. Depending on the age of onset, this affliction can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent types. Idiopathic Scoliosis may be due to genetic or hereditary influences as it often runs in families. However girls, for unknown reasons are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves grow in size and require treatment. As the term “Idiopathic Scoliosis” suggests, this type of scoliosis more often than not develops when children are ending their last major growth spurt. Unfortunately, at this age young people are reluctant to let their body to be seen by parents and other adults, so it is very important to have this age group examined on a regular basis.
It is crucial that if a scoliotic curve is found in a growing adolescent, the curves be monitored for any development by a periodic examination and on occasion standing x-rays. In ninety percent of conditions, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, but increases in spinal deformity demand evaluation to decide if a brace or other treatment is required. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be required.~Surgery may be required for a small number of individuals.
Brace therapy (orthosis) is recommended for newly-found symptoms of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis, as well as when an increase in scoliosis or kyphosis is identified in both juvenile and adolescent children. There are quite a few styles of braces, all designed to prevent curves from increasing through the process of acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Braces normally will not make the spine perfectly straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. However, bracing is successful in halting curve progression in a significant number of skeletally-immature adolescents.
Scoliosis has no simple resolution. Nearly all cases, even though often monitored, are not actively treated. The common medical treatment for moderate conditions is a brace, whereas severe afflictions are sometimes treated surgically. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.
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