Scoliosis

Spinal Curvature

Greathealthwatch May 22, 2023

0 10 4 minutes read

Scoliosis By Osagie Fadaka

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine most often diagnosed in adolescents. While

Scoliosis can occur in people with cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy conditions. However, the cause of most childhood scoliosis is unknown.

Scoliosis occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. Most cases are mild with few symptoms. However, some children develop spine deformities that get more severe as they grow.

Severe Scoliosis can be painful and disabling. Often, no treatment is necessary. Sometimes a brace or surgery is required. In most cases, the cause of Scoliosis is unknown and cannot usually be prevented. It is not assumed to be linked with bad posture, exercise, or diet.

If the cause of Scoliosis is unknown, it is called idiopathic Scoliosis. About eight out of every ten cases of Scoliosis are idiopathic.

In some severe cases, surgery may be needed. Most people with Scoliosis can have normal, active lives with treatment. There are support groups that can help. These are available for children, teens, and their parents.

The symptoms of Scoliosis are the following: having a visibly curved spine, leaning to one side, uneven shoulders, one shoulder or hip sticking out, the ribs sticking out on one side, and clothes not fitting well.

While Scoliosis can be reduced and managed to the point where it causes very few functional deficits, as a progressive and incurable condition, Scoliosis cannot be cured.

Three proven ways to manage Scoliosis are observation, bracing, and surgery. The doctor will recommend one of these methods based on the severity of the Scoliosis and the child’s physical maturity. These features predict how Scoliosis should behave during the child’s growing years and as an adult.

The three types of Scoliosis are as follows. Scoliosis can be classified by etiology: idiopathic, congenital, or neuromuscular. Idiopathic Scoliosis is the diagnosis when all other causes are excluded and comprise about 80 percent of all cases. Adolescent idiopathic Scoliosis is the most common type of Scoliosis and is mainly diagnosed during puberty.

It is best to avoid the following when you have Scoliosis: Looking down at your phone, lifting heavy objects, specific exercises, one-sided/impact sports, high heels, flip-flops, and other shoes that don’t provide much support.

Does Scoliosis get worse with age? If your doctor didn’t treat idiopathic Scoliosis when you were a child or adolescent, it could worsen with age. If your spinal curvature as an adolescent was less than 30 degrees, it’s unlikely to deteriorate. If it was over 50 degrees, it’s more likely to get worse.

If an activity or sport exposes the spine to irregular forces, increases spinal compression, or if there is adverse spinal tension, or puts it at risk of injury, these things can make Scoliosis worse. But the best way to prevent Scoliosis from worsening is by seeking proactive treatment as close to the time of diagnosis as possible.

Regarding sleeping position, the best situation for someone with Scoliosis is to sleep flat on their back. Using pillows to fill the gaps between the back and the mattress help to keep the spine in a straight and neutral position.

Scoliosis can affect various body parts, including the lungs, heart, brain, digestive system, muscles, nervous system, reproductive system, and mental health.

Introducing six daily habits into your routine can and will reduce scoliosis pain.

Stretch every morning. You can improve spinal health and restore some of the imbalances of Scoliosis with daily stretching. Keep your joints warm, eat an anti-inflammatory diet supplemented with vitamins, sleep on a firm mattress, and visit a chiropractor to begin scoliosis treatment.

A chiropractor for Scoliosis can develop a non-invasive, drug-free scoliosis treatment plan that addresses multiple symptoms. While chiropractors are unable to straighten your spine ultimately, studies have shown a marked improvement in spine curvature, pain, and disability rating among those with Scoliosis.

Running and walking are also great for scoliosis patients, as is hiking. However, sprinting is probably better for the spine than long-distance running. Cross-country skiing is also an excellent physical activity for adolescents with Scoliosis.

Scoliosis ranges from mild to severe. Sometimes, observation and home exercises are sufficient to correct a spinal curve. However, a person may need additional treatment, including bracing, surgery, or physical therapy in more severe cases.

The following will prevent further scoliosis progression:

Following a strict regimen of exercise.

Proper exercise is crucial to prevent the progression of Scoliosis and have a healthier diet. Both children and adults should maintain a healthy diet to avoid the progression of their Scoliosis, bracing, and surgery.

The fastest way to treat Scoliosis is Active bracing – with a brace like ScoliBrace.

Following specific exercises for Scoliosis will reduce it over time, but only at a much slower rate.

What does scoliosis pain feel like? Children or teens who have Scoliosis don’t generally experience pain. However, degenerative adult scoliosis can cause symptoms such as achiness or stiffness in the mid to low back or numbness and weakness in your leg.

Mild cases of Scoliosis may not need treatment. But, moderate to severe Scoliosis that is left untreated can lead to pain, increasing deformity, and potential heart and lung damage.

Healthcare providers measure scoliosis curves in degrees: A mild curve is less than 20 degrees. A moderate curve is between 25 degrees and 40 degrees. A severe curve is more than 50 degrees.

Is Scoliosis genetically passed from parents to their children? Strong evidence suggests that Scoliosis runs in families, but no direct evidence has been found. Also, nearly a third of patients with adolescent idiopathic Scoliosis have a family history of the condition.

Sources

https://www.mayoclinic.org

https://www.nhsinform.scot

https://www.nhs.uk