As many as one in ten people will have scoliosis in some form. Women in particular are especially susceptible, with 90 per cent of sufferers being female. Scoliosis often presents during the teenage years, which are a critical formative time both physically and psychologically, and Adelaide teens often consult chiropractors during this time.
The spine has three natural curves; however, scoliosis is defined as the abnormal, lateral curvature of the spine. It can be disfiguring and painful if left untreated over an extended period of time. As the spine bends, the vertebrae can become twisted and pull the muscles and other bones (such as the ribs) around with them. Multiple curvatures can also occur with time to cause an S-shaped curve. In these cases, it may be hard to detect any abnormalities as the double curves can counteract one another, however, this can affect hip height and mobility.
Muscles around and connected to the spine can also be affected from the conditions, as they become compromised and work against their natural function. This can lead to muscle spasms, cramping and tightness.
The causes of Scoliosis, however, can be hard to identify. There are three main types that address the possible causes of the condition.
Functional scoliosis causes an abnormal curve to develop because of a problem somewhere else in the body. This could be because of uneven leg lengths or general muscle tightness. Adelaide chiropractors often get successful results with this type particularly.
Neuromuscular scoliosis indicates a problem when the bones of the spine are formed. In this case, the bones may have failed to form completely or failed to separate from each other – either as a result of a birth defect, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy or other such disease. This type of scoliosis can prove very painful, aggressive and more difficult to treat.
Degenerative scoliosis, the final classification, is most commonly found in older adults, unlike the other forms which are often seen in developing bodies. This type is caused by changes in the spine which come with age and the weakening of ligaments, muscles and tissue.
The common response to scoliosis in the past has been surgery of bracing; these techniques have proven to be invasive, costly, and come with many repercussions.
The chiropractic technique of specific spinal adjustments teamed with strengthening exercises has become an increasingly popular approach to addressing abnormal curvature of the spine and has shown remarkable results. Like with most health issues, early detection can lead to a very high success rate in treating the problem; however, regular care and maintenance can lead to outstanding outcomes.
Scoliosis is a condition we often see here at Walkerville Chiropractic, and through a positive approach to optimising health and wellbeing, we have seen some magnificent responses and results over the years!
