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The lateral curvature of the spine, or scoliosis, is a common condition that many people suffer from. Despite the widespread belief that surgery is the only option, some conservative treatments could be helpful.
It may come as a surprise, but chiropractic care can help manage scoliosis. So, can a chiropractor help with scoliosis? How? Chiropractic care is one form of conservative treatment.
Patients with scoliosis are frequently treated by chiropractors, who can help them live more pain-free, normal lives.
Millions of people have scoliosis, yet many are unaware of the discomfort and potential health risks. It is usually not life-threatening, though it might be mild or severe.
Scoliosis, however, can lead to breathing, cardiac issues, back and neck pain, and discomfort if treatment is not received.
Additionally, it’s among the most prevalent spinal disorders that chiropractors treat. Thus, early detection is essential.
The good news is that there are treatments available to help reduce the pain and discomfort caused by scoliosis.
Aside from increasing range of motion and flexibility, chiropractic treatment for scoliosis successfully lessens the condition’s symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, muscle spasms, neck and back discomfort, and more.
What is Scoliosis?
An unnatural sideways S-shaped or C-shaped curvature of the spine is a characteristic of the spinal condition scoliosis. People of all ages are affected, and the degree of deformity mostly determines the severity level.
The majority of instances are thought to be caused by idiopathic scoliosis. However, some sufferers are born with congenital scoliosis because of embryological abnormality of one or more vertebrae; others have neuromuscular scoliosis, which can be linked to a neurological or muscular condition.
Idiopathic scoliosis, which translates as “without known cause,” regrettably accounts for almost 80% of all instances.
Common signs that might indicate the possibility of scoliosis are as follows:
- Imbalanced shoulders or a shoulder blade that protrudes more than the other when standing;
- A lower back hump (lumbar prominence) or a rib hump (rib prominence) when bending forward; or
- One hip might appear higher than the other, so the waist is uneven.
Diagnosing Scoliosis
Diagnosing scoliosis includes taking the patient’s medical history and any family history. The doctor will ask about recent growth, pain, and other symptoms.
They will perform a basic physical examination, allowing them to check for spine curvature and other physical symptoms.
The doctor might also perform a neurological exam to look for numbness, muscle weakness, and abnormal reflexes. X-ray imaging is essential for making an accurate diagnosis of scoliosis.
Can A Chiropractor Help with Scoliosis?
Chiropractic adjustments can effectively treat scoliosis. They enhance a patient’s quality of life, decrease pain, and improve posture and spinal alignment.
Misalignment of the spine often causes muscle strain and pain in other body parts, including the back, hips, neck, and shoulders. A chiropractic adjustment can reduce muscle strain, improving blood flow to the damaged muscles.
Many people with scoliosis do not experience symptoms, and the condition does not affect their daily lives.
However, if treatment is not received, the illness may progress and cause incapacitating agony.
Scoliosis Treatment with Chiropractic Care
In general, a chiropractor can treat scoliosis in three ways:
Manual Adjustments
Scoliosis-trained chiropractors are skilled in working with the curves and twists of the spine. Gentle manipulation and scoliosis-safe manual modifications reduce strain on the nerve system, allowing the body to operate more smoothly and effectively.
People from various backgrounds can benefit from this technique, including those who have had surgery in the past and would like not to have it done again, those who are attempting to avoid surgery, teenagers who don’t wish to wear braces, and most other circumstances.
Although it’s a little more complex than that, most people think of scoliosis as a sideways curvature of the spine.
The lumbar lordosis points forward in the lower back; the thoracic kyphosis, which points backward in the middle of the back; and the cervical lordosis, which points forward in the neck, are the three curves that should make up a spine.
One or more of these three normal curves in the spine are forced in a different direction by scoliosis.
People who have scoliosis are essentially double-jointed in the neck. If not carefully managed, this hypermobility renders the joints unstable and increases their risk of damage and dislocation.
Adjustments for scoliosis do not require moving or twisting the neck. Instead, they adjust the neck and other body joints using a precise mechanical adjustment tool.
Recentering the head is the first step in reestablishing the healthy curvature in the spine. While the patient is sitting up, an adjustment tool applies precise yet moderate stresses to the neck bones, urging the neck into the proper position.
The three-dimensional measurements of the spine derived from X-rays can also be used to modify the hips and back.
Massage Therapy
When a scoliosis-affected spine is properly corrected, the body needs a bit more energy and effort to adapt to the alteration. Massage therapy is a great approach to assist the body in re-adjusting and relaxing the muscles. It can also calm the mind, which helps manage this long-term illness.
Other Scoliosis Treatment Options
Not all people diagnosed with scoliosis will need treatment. In children and young adults, the curvature of the spine may improve over time, and very few negative side effects, such as pain, interfere with daily life.
If the spine curve is quite severe or is thought to worsen over time rather than improve, a back brace that stops the curve from increasing is recommended.
In extreme cases, adolescents or adults with scoliosis can have corrective surgery that straightens the spine, but this is often a last resort.
Back pain is common in adults with degenerative scoliosis. The spine’s curvature can trap some nerves and increase joint pressure, resulting in inflammation.
The change in posture associated with scoliosis can also cause muscle pain.
Ongoing and severe back pain can be debilitating, and chronic pain can also be connected to mental health problems such as depression.
Seeking treatment for your pain is important, and you should keep an open mind, as the same thing doesn’t work for everybody.
Pain Medications
There are several options a doctor will recommend to treat chronic back pain. Strong medications such as opioids, nerve pain agents, and Diazepam can sometimes help to relieve pain.
However, they come with side effects. Painkillers can also be very addictive and become less effective over time, so medication is not a long-term option for treating pain.
Steroid spinal injections can reduce back discomfort in the joints and nerves. They are ineffective over the long term for patients with chronic disorders like scoliosis, but they may be helpful for managing discomfort in the short term.
Alternative Therapies
In addition to scoliosis treatment, alternative and complementary therapies can alleviate pain related to the condition. Regular Pilates classes and massage can help with mobility issues and remove joint tension. Spinal adjustments and techniques carried out by a chiropractic professional can also help manage pain.
While people with scoliosis don’t tend to see an improvement in the curve of their spine, the growth can be slowed down, and the function of the spine can be improved with a range of therapies and treatments.
Conclusion
Massage therapy and chiropractic adjustments complement one other and your current treatment regimens. Without medications or surgery, a chiropractor can optimize your health by clearing the blockages caused by misaligned joints, strained muscles, and compressed discs.