Charlotte’s top chiropractor: what is scoliosis and how can it be treated?

Charlotte’s top chiropractor explains that a condition known as scoliosis affects an estimated 7 million Americans, scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine.

Many patients that have scoliosis can find, even with a mild form of the condition, it to be a painful detriment to their lives, symptoms can range from not noticeable to severe. So, what options would you have if you are told by a doctor that you are not a good candidate for surgery?

More and more patients are turning to care from a chiropractor instead of an orthopedist, physical therapist, or their primary care doctor for their scoliosis treatment.

But why? Let’s take a look at what scoliosis is and what happens to a patient’s body who is suffering from the condition.

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition that typically occurs during puberty since the way that the spine forms can be impacted by the rapid growth at the time will cause a curvature of the spine. The curvature can range from a minor curve to an almost S-like shape in the spine, however, the degree of spine curve will vary from patient to patient.

The exact cause of scoliosis isn’t known, but some cases of scoliosis have been credited to certain conditions such as muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy.

Many patients who have scoliosis never notice any symptoms of the condition or need to make any changes to their daily lives. However, without any treatment, scoliosis can get much worse and lead to severely debilitating pain.

Also, people that suffer from the more severe cases can experience a decrease in space within the chest cavity, this causes shortness of breath.

Patients suffering from the condition at a young age will need to be checked for signs that their scoliosis is getting worse, usually, this is done with regular X-ray appointments to see if the curve in their spine is increasing.

How can a chiropractor treat scoliosis?

There may not be any treatment that is needed for patients who have a minor case of scoliosis symptoms. To check that the curve in the spine isn’t worse than before, they may need to visit their doctor occasionally and have X-rays taken, but any other treatment may not be necessary.

Some patients that are experiencing mild symptoms will be given a back brace or undergo physical therapy as a minor corrective measure. This is done to correct the curvature in the spine and gently straighten it.

For more severe cases the patient may require some traction where hammocks and pulleys will be used to gradually pull the spine back into a natural position.

Chiropractic care can help with some of the symptoms for patients with mild to moderate scoliosis symptoms and help correct their posture.