Scoliosis Spines Are Straightened With Chiropractic
By Chris Brown
The backbone is the compass of the body's movements. When it is off, as it is with scoliosis sufferers, it throws off the kinetics of the joints, bones, and connective tissues. This can lead to problems with nearly every joint and degradation of back posture. If caught early, minor scoliosis can be fixed without surgery or embarrassing back braces with chiropractic. More serious scoliosis-angled backs may potentially see improvements with treatment. Chiropractic is able to manually manipulate the spine over several adjustments, guiding it back into correct positioning. In this way, chiropractic can be a savior for someone with any stage of scoliosis.
Scoliosis: The Sideways Bend
Whereas an arching curvature naturally creates strength in the spine, scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the backbone. This curvature disrupts gait and back strength. It can progressively worsen throughout life and create back, joint, or even lung and heart damage (if the curvature angles enough for the ribs to press against those organs). Scoliosis can be caused by birth defects, neuromuscular diseases, or injuries to the spine, affecting about 3 percent of adolescents.
In order to determine treatment, the scoliosis curvature must be evaluated by a professional. Minor cases are traditionally only monitored for worsening with larger curvature requiring braces (during growth stages) or even surgery. If caught early, minor scoliosis though can be corrected with chiropractic and future braces, or surgery, may be prevented altogether.
Chiropractic Straightens the Curve
Chiropractic's expertise is in identifying spinal restrictions and correcting the dysfunctions that contribute to scoliosis. Whereas traditional medicine may deploy the wait-and-see approach to minor scoliosis, chiropractic proactively corrects spinal alignment to relieve future problems. A systematic review of scoliosis treatments found that, while existing studies contained an insufficient sample size for any definitive conclusions, spinal manipulation seems to be effective at preventing curve progression and can even reduce the angle of scoliosis.
In a 9-year study of a mother and two daughters with scoliosis, all three saw a spinal correction of at least six degrees by the end of the study. This improvement is important for showing how chiropractic can actually decrease scoliosis in addition to preventing further degradation. It seems that most all cases of scoliosis would benefit from chiropractic manipulation.
If you or someone you know is suffering from scoliosis, don't hesitate any longer to visit the offices of your nearest neighborhood clinic, The Joint Chiropractic. The Joint welcomes walk-in sessions for affordable, insurance-free, rates. So drop into one of The Joint's 500-plus nationwide clinics to relieve spinal dysfunction one adjustment at a time.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Katy, Tex.