Scoliosis is a physical condition where the spine instead of being in a straight vertical line has a lateral (sideways) curvature. A healthy spine, when viewed from behind, should appear straight. If the individual has scoliosis, instead of appearing to be straight, the spine will show curvature, particularly in prominent cases. Scoliosis is more common in girls than boys and is usually diagnosed between ages 10 to 16 often by a chiropractic exam or a school screening.

There are 4 types of scoliosis:

  1. Congenital scoliosis is present at birth and is caused by a bone abnormality.
  2. Degenerative scoliosis occurs from bone deformation or collapse, a traumatic injury, osteoporosis (or thinning of the spinal bones), or major spinal surgery.
  3. Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form of scoliosis involving 80% of cases. Currently, there is no known cause or contributing factor. There are numerous theories but none have been conclusively proven. That said, it is known to run in families.
  4. Neuromuscular scoliosis is due to abnormal muscle or nerve formation. Neuromuscular scoliosis is most commonly seen in individuals with spina bifida or cerebral palsy.

Scoliosis can occur in sections of the spine, or run throughout the length of the spine

Scoliosis Should be Treated

Scoliosis will eventually lead to unlevel hips. Over time, unlevel hips will lead to degenerative changes and arthritis in the hips. As an adult, scoliosis can decrease a patient’s height, cause balance issues, and loss of bladder and bowel control. Pain and weakness can develop in the legs, buttocks, and feet as scoliosis creates pressure on the sciatic nerve.

When scoliosis is left untreated, even if it is just a small degree of scoliosis, there are many potential future health conditions.

  • Spinal Osteoarthritis
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Sciatica
  • Nerve Interference leading to:
    • Heart problems
    • Lung/Breathing problems
    • Constipation
    • Incontinence
    • Fertility problems
    • Digestive issues
    • Acid Reflux
  • And More

X-ray analysis is used to measure the severity of the scoliosis curvature. Traditional medical and orthopedic treatment options are based on this measurement. Often a small degree of scoliosis is “watched” until it progresses further. As the scoliosis progresses, but is still less than 25 degrees, rehabilitative exercises and stretches are recommended. Every 3-4 months they will reevaluate to see if the curve is getting worse. Once the scoliosis curve measures between 25-40 degrees (and the child is still growing and maturing) the standard medical treatment is a brace. The brace is worn 7 days a week, 23 hours a day, with the goal of halting the progression of the scoliosis curve. As you can imagine, many teenagers will not fully comply due to sociological and emotional issues — rending the treatment unsuccessful. Quite often the scoliosis curvature will return once the brace is no longer being worn.

If the patient’s scoliosis has not responded to wearing a brace or exceeds 40 degrees, surgery becomes the next consideration. Surgery to treat scoliosis involves surgically attaching metal rods to the spine and performing a spinal fusion that permanently fuses the vertebrae.

Chiropractic Treatment for Scoliosis

Chiropractic care is a natural treatment for scoliosis that is very successful in correcting the scoliosis curve. Under chiropractic care, a chiropractor will use adjustment to correct the alignment of the spine, remove pressure from the nerves, and increase the range of motion in the spine. Additionally, postural and rehabilitative exercises and stretches will be recommended to stabilize and strengthen the muscles supporting the spine.

Many cases have shown chiropractic care to be an effective way to treat scoliosis including a study from 2010 where a 15-year-old girl whose scoliosis curve measured 44-degrees at the start of her treatment had the curvature reduced to 32-degrees in just 5 months. Further chiropractic treatments showed continued improvement.

Over the years we have seen many patients with scoliosis who have seen similar results with our treatment protocols. At Berardis Family Chiropractic we can take in-house digital X-rays to determine how advanced your scoliosis is.

Why People with Scoliosis Should Seek Chiropractic Care

Scoliosis affects between 5-7 million in America, and most of these cases are children. The vast majority of those affected have a mild form of scoliosis, known as idiopathic scoliosis, for which the typical medical treatment is “careful observation.” The reason why observation (only rehabilitative exercises and stretches) is the standard medical treatment is most people, especially children, will not wear a brace 23 hours a day, and the other traditional option — surgery — is considered a last resort.

80% of individuals with scoliosis typically have a lateral spinal curvature of less than 20 degrees, which is something that often requires a trained eye to easily observe. However, as we mentioned earlier, scoliosis can progress and lead to many health issues as an adult so it should be treated and not ignored.

Chiropractic care offers a natural, pro-active approach to reverse scoliosis, or keep it from progressing, and even in some cases completely restore normal function. Once a lateral spinal curve is reduced to less than the 10-degrees, it is no longer considered scoliosis. Chiropractic care has shown proven results in the treatment of scoliosis and is a much better option than the “careful observation” where the only corrective options are wearing a body brace and/or surgery.

Signs that you may have Scoliosis

The body gives you clues about scoliosis. If you examine your posture you may notice that:

  • One shoulder is higher than the other
  • The head is not directly over the pelvis
  • A prominent shoulder blade
  • One hip is higher than the other
  • The entire body is leaning to one side.

If you are looking for alternatives to medications and surgeries for scoliosis, and many other health concerns, please contact Dr. Mike Berardis at (914) 962-1234, and schedule for a consultation. You can also use our convenient appointment form. If you know of others who can benefit from this information on scoliosis, please share and recommend this article.