Scoliosis
As a chiropractor in the Woodbridge, Dale City VA area I have tons of patients with scoliosis. Some who knew they had it coming and wanted relief from associated problems and some who had no clue. Both can benefit from chiropractic care.
Scoliosis is a condition resulting in the sideways curvature of the spine and it impacts approximately 2-3% of the population in the U.S. (6-9 million people). Scoliosis is generally diagnosed in children 10-15 years old and females are more likely to be diagnosed than males.
There are four main classifications of scoliosis: * Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common—it accounts for 80% of scoliosis cases—and leaves some mystery regarding the cause. While a cause is not easily identified, it may be due to hereditary and/or familial reasons.
Neuromuscular scoliosis is caused by disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and muscular system. Muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy are diseases that contribute to neuromuscular scoliosis.
Congenital scoliosis occurs when birth defects impact the spine and vertebrae.
Degenerative scoliosis is typically a result of trauma, surgery, or illness such as osteoporosis or arthritis. There are several different treatment options for scoliosis and they vary based on multiple factors, including:
Age
Likelihood of future bone growth
Severity and shape of the spinal curve
Type of scoliosis (idiopathic, neuromuscular, congenital, degenerative)
With mild cases of scoliosis, the treatment program will include observation for changes in the spine curvature. In moderate to severe cases the treatment may be more invasive and generally includes spinal bracing and surgery options.
You may be wondering—how does chiropractic care fit into a scoliosis diagnosis and treatment plan?
Chiropractors may be the first line for diagnosing scoliosis. Chiropractors are alignment specialists and are likely to be first to notice any atypical spinal alignment issues in a patient. Additionally, chiropractors are specially trained to locate and correct areas of spinal subluxation.
Many of the symptoms associated with scoliosis, including pain in the shoulders, rib cage, spine, and hips, are readily treated by chiropractic manipulations. While chiropractors are not presently able to “cure” scoliosis, they are able to provide relief to patients suffering from many of the symptoms of scoliosis. A 2011 study found that after a thorough chiropractic rehabilitation treatment program, the patient group reported improvements in pain, even 24 months after the treatment. Numerous case studies show chiropractic adjustments can significantly reduce the angle of the scoliosis curve and a small-scale 2016 study recently confirmed that chiropractic techniques were effective at
reducing the curvature of the spine in idiopathic scoliosis in as little as four weeks. Chiropractic treatment methods include soft tissue massage and spinal correction techniques. While the ability for chiropractic treatment to treat the physical curvature of the spine is still undergoing research on a larger scale, the current results are promising.
Together with a chiropractor, a patient can develop a specific treatment plan that may include observational monitoring, chiropractic adjustments, at home exercises, and /or a physical therapy program. Treatment for scoliosis, particularly mild scoliosis, does not have to be scary, invasive, or involve extensive down time. Chiropractic care may assist with lessening painful symptoms and reduce the curvature of the spine over time.
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Doroski Chiropractic Neurology
3122 Golansky Blvd, Ste 102
Woodbridge VA 22192
703 730 9588