What Do Chiropractors Do For Scoliosis? Chiropractor Near Me
Do you have significant asymmetrical shoulder height or a lump on the back? If you can see asymmetry in different parts of the body, you probably have scoliosis. Scoliosis is a abnormal sideways curvature of the spine that is a three dimensional deformity. The Cobb angle is worldwide used measurement to show the degree of the lateral curvature.
The Codd angle that is equal to or greater than 10 degrees accounts for 2 to 3 percent of the population while the curves more than 40 degrees are only 0.1 percent. Scoliosis patients are more common on girls than boys.
Types Of Scoliosis
- Idiopathic
- Infantile idiopathic scoliosis (birth to 3 years old) – extremely rare
- Juvenile idiopathic scolisos (4 to 10 years old)
- Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (11 to 18 years old) – more common
- Congenital
- Neuromuscular
A majority of scoliosis is Idiopathic. Children with idiopathic scoliosis is generally healthy and neurologically normal. This most common form of scoliosis occurs with unknown cause but involves a genetic component.
The magnitude of curvature between generations is not relevant. In other words, affected children can have milder or more severe curves than their parents.
Congenital scoliosis is the result of failure vertebral or/and segmental development during the first trimester of pregnancy. Congenital genitourinary malformations and congenital heart disease occur in 20% and 15% of children with congenital scoliosis, respectively. Spinal dysraphism such as spina bifida occulta and myelomeningocele is also highly associated with congenital scoliosis patients.
Neuromuscular disorders lead to muscle imbalance, soft tissue contracture and progressive muscle weakness. Scoliosis is one of the complications of neuromuscular disorders. The magnitude of scoliosis is in proportion to the progression of diseases and muscle weakness.
Clinical Presentations
- Asymmetry in the posterior rib cage and anterior ches wall
- Uneven shoulder height
- Uneven waist and hip
- Apparent leg length discrepancy
- Flank asymmetry
Curve Progression
Before skeletal maturation
- Premenarchal girls with 20 to 30 degrees curve compared to menarchal girls with the same degrees: highly likely to progress
- >25 degrees: continue to progress
- After skeletal maturation
- <30 degrees: unlikely to progress
- >45 or 50 degrees: continue to progress (1-2 degrees per year)
Chiropractic Consultation – Early Detection And Monitor Of Scoliosis – Chiropractor Near Me
Early detection of scoliosis is crucial and prevent the fast progression of scoliosis during adolescent growth spurt. For adolescents who have family history or signs of scoliosis, it is necessary to examine any abnormality of the spine. Adam’s forward bend test is the most widely used screening exam to detect scoliosis.
The test is performed with the patient’s shirt off. The patient is instructed to hold their palms together and to bend forward with knees and elbows in extension. The feet are put together. The experienced health professional standing behind the patient observes any abnormality of the spine and an asymmetry of the trunk.
If there is a suspection of scoliosis, patients with scoliosis requires full spine x-ray. Before skeletal maturity when reach 18 years old, curve can progress. Monitoring curve progression is vital to provide sufficient treatment options. The Cobb angle more than 25 degrees is likely to continue to progress before skeletal maturity.
More than 30 degrees can start wearing a custom asymmetrical brace, which provide support and prevent further progression. If the curve continues to progress and is over 40 degrees, a spinal fusion surgery may be required to realign the curved vetrbae.
Chiropractic Treatment – Chiropractor Near Me
Scoliosis with the Cobb angle less than 45 degrees that does not cause health problems such as the compromise of cadiopulmonary function does not require surgery. However, for long term, neck pain, mid back pain and lower back pain are common on scoliosis patients. As a consequence of the rotated and curved spine, it causes biomechanical changes in the spine loading.
Asymmetrical weight distribution and loading to the spine will stress the vertebral discs, joints and postural muscles unevenly. In scoliotic spine, the superior, inferior and the apex of vertebra bear more weight than other vertebra. Therefore, subluxation always occurs in these affected vertebra.
Chiropractic adjustment can help to reduce the pain caused by scoliosis due to the realignment of the spine and the removal of restriction. Furthermore, chiropractic manipulation may prevent the progression of scoliosis. Apart from manual therapy, the doctor of chiropractic will prescribe a exercise program to improve muscle imbalance in the treatment plan. However, chiropractic care can treat scoliosis symptoms not fix it.
Chiropractic Clinic Services Suburbs – Chiropractor Near Me
Kings Park NSW 2148
Stanhope Gardens NSW 2768
Rooty Hill NSW 2766
Seven Hills NSW 2147
Kellyville NSW 2155
Marsden Park NSW 2765
Schofields NSW 2762
The Ponds NSW 2769
Rouse Hill NSW 2155
