by Long Van, D.C.
Scoliosis, a spine disorder, affects an estimated six to nine million people in the United States, and can start from infancy and develop way into adulthood.
“Females are eight times more likely to progress to a curve magnitude that requires treatment. Every year, scoliosis patients make more than 600,000 visits to private physician offices, an estimated 30,000 children are fitted with a brace and 38,000 patients undergo spinal fusion surgery.1
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is the way the body curves to compensate for the weight and stress a person takes and puts on the body. It is like a tree curving side to side to support the nature of its weight so it would not simply tip over. The curve start from the roots of the tree—in your body it is the tailbone.
Most direct and specific causes of scoliosis are still unknown due to multiple conditions occurring in a person, but if you think of it structurally, it will make sense.
The body has an innate intelligence which determines its balance. If a tree leans more toward the right, what would you do to straighten it back? You would brace and pull or push it back to the left side. That is exactly what your body does.
Scoliosis can also occur front to back . Kyphosis is a curve in the spine seen from the side in which the spine is bent forward. There is a normal kyphosis in the middle (thoracic) spine. Lordosis is a curve seen from the side in which the spine is bent backward. There is a normal lordosis in the upper (cervical) spine and the lower (lumbar) spine.
Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some children develop spine deformities that continue to get more severe as they grow. Severe scoliosis can be disabling.
People with this disease develop additional curves to either side of the body, and the bones of the spine twist on each other, forming a “C” or an “S” shape in the spine. Severe spinal curve can reduce the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly.
Children who have mild scoliosis are monitored closely, usually with X-rays, to see if the curve is getting worse. In many cases, no treatment is necessary. Some children will need to wear a brace to stop the curve from worsening. Others may need surgery to keep the disease from worsening and to reduce its severity.
Scoliosis is about two times more common in girls than boys. It can be seen at any age, but it is most common in those over 10 years of age. Most is idiopathic (unknown causes), but there are three main factor that attribute to this conditions.
Functional: In this type of scoliosis, the spine is normal, but an abnormal curve develops because of a problem somewhere else in the body. This could be caused by one leg being shorter than the other or by muscle spasms in the back.
Neuromuscular: In this type of scoliosis, there is a problem when the bones of the spine are formed. Either the bones of the spine fail to form completely or they fail to separate from each other during fetal development. This type of congenital disease develops in people with other disorders, including birth defects, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, or Marfan syndrome (an inherited connective tissue disease). People with these conditions often develop a long C-shaped curve and have weak muscles that are unable to hold them up straight. If the curve is present at birth, it is called congenital. This type is often much more severe and needs more aggressive treatment than other forms of scoliosis.
Degenerative: Unlike the other forms of scoliosis that are found in children and teens, degenerative scoliosis occurs in older adults. It is caused by changes in the spine due to arthritis known as spondylosis. Weakening of the normal ligaments and other soft tissues of the spine combined with abnormal bone spurs can lead to an abnormal curvature of the spine. The spine can also be affected by osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, and disc degeneration.
Signs and symptoms of scoliosis may include:
• Uneven shoulders
• One shoulder blade that appears more prominent than the other
• Uneven waist
• One hip higher than the other
If scoliosis is not prevented, then other conditions might develop, such as:
1. Cerebral palsy
2. Muscular dystrophy
3. Birth defects
4. Infections
5. Tumors
6. Genetic conditions like Marfan syndrome and Down syndrome
What natural ways can be done to help prevent the progression of this condition?
We need to start from an early age. We have to remind our children to keep their body in erect position—as I have discussed in my articles on upper and lower cross syndrome.
When going to school, children should wear their backpacks with both shoulders. Women should alternate their shoulders in carrying their purses, not putting too much weight on either one of them. The same with men and their satchels. When working, move your whole body—not bending or twisting or focusing on just one side.
Studies have shown that certain exercise-based chiropractic programs help with adult scoliosis. In a particular study cited in the website of the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, 28 adult patients with scoliosis were subjected to a chiropractic rehabilitation program for a period of 24 months. The patients showed remarkable reduction in pain and disability at 6 and 24 months. 2
References:
1. “Scoliosis,” by Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD, MedicineNet.com; Last accessed 6/4/2018
2. “Scoliosis Center,” by Jason M. Highsmith, MD; Reviewed by Mary Rodts, DNP, Spine Universe; Last accessed 6/4/2018
Footnotes:
1 “Scoliosis,” American Association of Neurological Surgeons; Last accessed 6/4/2018
2 Mark W. Morningstar, J Chiropr Med. 2011 Sep; 10(3): 179–184. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2011.01.006; Last accessed 6/4/2018
Long Van, D.C. joined the team at Absolute Injury and Pain Physicians in 2008. He has experience in helping the human body function properly through the natural approach, and enjoys reading up on new information concerning medical conditions and associated treatments available.