What Is Scoliosis?
The Scoliosis Reduction Center indicates that up to seven million Americans have scoliosis. Scoliosis is a spinal condition affecting 2 to 3 percent of the population. This condition refers to a spine that is curved abnormally to the side. To diagnose a patient with scoliosis, a measurement called a Cobb angle is used to draw intersecting lines from the tops and bottoms of the most uneven vertebrae of the curvature. This angle is measured in degrees and uses a scale to determine the severity of the condition. A patient must have a minimum Cobb angle measurement of 10 degrees to be diagnosed with scoliosis. There may not be a cure, but chiropractic can help people better manage their pain, discomfort, and any health issues related to their condition. Now that you know what scoliosis is, let’s take a look at how chiropractic can help patients with scoliosis.
What Are Common Symptoms of Scoliosis?
Like any condition, the symptoms and severity of scoliosis vary for everyone. Around 90 percent of those with scoliosis have a spine curvature that isn’t severe enough to require surgery. However, this group can still experience significant pain due to how this condition affects the body’s anatomy. In severe cases, a patient’s spine will rotate from front to back and cause a side-to-side curve. This can make the rib cage appear more prominent than the other.
Common Symptoms include:
- Clothes appear to hang unevenly
- Chronic back pain
- Chronic muscle spasms
- Difficulty breathing
- Uneven hips, shoulders, or waist
What Are the Benefits of Chiropractic for Patients with Scoliosis?
Chiropractors are highly trained at identifying and addressing scoliosis. These health experts perform gentle, safe adjustments to decrease pain, discomfort, and other health issues related to a patient’s condition. This whole-body care is drug-free, non-invasive, and safe at reducing any pressure placed on the patient’s nervous system. Also, this care helps strengthen the patient’s body. Indeed, chiropractors can improve the patient’s spine alignment, posture, and overall quality of life.
For scoliosis patients, the spine is in an unnatural position. This may cause muscle strain and pain in the back, neck, shoulders, and hips. Luckily, a chiropractic adjustment can decrease this muscle strain. In turn, this will increase blood flow to those sore muscles and decrease any pain and inflammation. Unlike preventative care, it’s recommended that patients receive routine chiropractic adjustments to maximize the benefits for scoliosis patients.
The chiropractor will also recommend tips to:
- Exercise to reduce or remove pain
- Strengthen the body and provide better joint support
- Improve the ability to take deep breaths
- Stay active without worsening symptoms
Evaluation and Treatment Plan
When you have your first appointment, the chiropractor will meet with you, discuss your health goals, and create a customized treatment plan to address and treat your condition. The chiropractor will discuss your family and medical history, as well as conduct a physical examination. This appointment may include some manipulation of the spine and neck to determine your full range of motion. If needed, the chiropractor may request your medical records from your doctor regarding your diagnosis. The chiropractor will also ask about your scoliosis symptoms and how it impacts your everyday life. Based on this key information, the chiropractor will develop a treatment plan that includes what techniques will be used, how often you will receive adjustments, and exercises to do at home. Your chiropractor will continue to reference this plan to measure your progress and adjust it as needed.
Personalized Treatment
Depending on the severity and symptoms of your condition, your chiropractor may recommend that you receive a few adjustments each week. This may be necessary to help your spine slowly adjust to the new positions from chiropractic care. Your chiropractor may also recommend some at-home exercises, physical therapy, and doctor visits. This will help ensure your treatment plan is working well and is helping you better manage your scoliosis.
Maintenance Care
As you start to feel better and find it easier to function in daily life, your chiropractor may suggest you switch to maintenance care. This is when you only receive occasional adjustments, such as once or twice a month. Depending on your budget and lifestyle, this can either be scheduled or as needed. Indeed, maintenance care will help you maintain a healthy spine alignment, reduce your pain, and help you better manage your spinal condition.
Contact Enlighten Chiropractic Today
As you can see, there are numerous benefits of chiropractic care for scoliosis patients. This condition may not have a cure, but that doesn’t mean you should have to live in pain. If you are interested in chiropractic care, contact Enlighten Chiropractic today. Our expert chiropractors in Lakeville, MN would love to help you heal from the inside out through our gentle, effective chiropractic care.
