Scoliosis Article - United Family Chiropractic

Scoliosis: The Hidden Spinal Disorder

By Dr. Katie Greeley B.S., D.C.

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a Greek word meaning "crooked." Most of the time it will go undetected, but there are signs to watch for so that it can be detected early and treated as effectively as possible. Signs include a person's tendency to lean to the left or right and many children with scoliosis have one shoulder blade that's higher than the other or a noticeably uneven waist. These problems may be recognized when your child is trying on new clothes. For instance, if one pant leg is shorter than the other, it might be an indication of scoliosis. If you notice any possible indication, contact a practitioner who can accurately diagnose and treat your child's problematic spine curvature.

Scoliosis and procedures for children:

When your child is being screened for posture problems or scoliosis, here are a few procedures you may encounter in both your medical and chiropractic offices:

Medical history - The doctor talks to the patient and the patient's parent(s) and reviews the patient's records to look for medical problems that might be causing the spine to curve such as birth defects, trauma or other disorders that can be associated with scoliosis.

Physical examination - The doctor examines the patient's back, chest, pelvis, legs, feet and skin. He or she will also check to see that the patient's shoulders are level, whether the head is centered and whether opposite sides of the body look level. The doctor also examines the back muscles while the patient is bending forward to see if one side of the rib cage is higher than the other.

X-ray evaluation - Patients with significant spinal curves, unusual back pain or signs of involvement of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) need an x-ray. To determine the degree of the curve, an x-ray evaluation is necessary.

Curve measurement - The doctor measures the curve on the x-ray image. He or she finds the vertebrae at the beginning and end of the curve and measures the angle of the curve. Curvatures of less than 20 degrees can be conservatively managed with spinal adjustments by a Doctor of Chiropractic, as well as with soft tissue therapy and exercise. Any curvature, which progresses to more than 20 degrees during the growth period, should be evaluated for possible bracing.

Scoliosis curves are grouped by their location, shape, pattern, and cause:

Location - To identify a curve's location, doctors find the apex of the curve (the vertebra within the curve that is the most off-center); the location of the apex is the "location" of the curve. A thoracic curve has its apex in the thoracic area (the part of the spine to which the ribs attach). A lumbar curve has its apex in the lower back. A thoracolumbar curve has its apex where the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae join.

Shape - The curve usually is S- or C-shaped.

Pattern - Curves frequently follow patterns that have been studied in previous patients. The larger the curve is, the more likely it will progress (depending on the amount of growth remaining).

Cause - In 80 to 85 percent of people, the cause of scoliosis is unknown; this is called idiopathic scoliosis. Causes of curves are classified as either nonstructural or structural.

Nonstructural (functional) scoliosis – a structurally normal spine that appears curved. This is a temporary, changing curve. It is caused by an underlying condition such as a difference in leg length, muscle spasms or inflammatory conditions such as appendicitis. Automobile or recent traumatic accidents can cause these changing curves. Doctors can easily treat this type of scoliosis by correcting the underlying problem.

Structural scoliosis – A fixed curve that doctors treat case by case. Sometimes structural scoliosis is one part of a syndrome or disease. A congenital half vertebrae or even a fracture of the spine can cause it.

Possible scoliosis causes:

According to a feature in the medical journal Spine, teenage girls with Scoliosis were found to have high copper levels in their hair. The authors of this study suggested that copper might play a role in idiopathic scoliosis. Furthermore, in another study of scoliosis published in Spine, calcium was higher in idiopathic scoliosis muscles than in other forms of scoliosis or in normal control muscles. The study suggested that calcium related neuromuscular defect could be an important factor in the genesis of idiopathic scoliosis. Furthermore, a report from a researcher at the Women's Medical and Diagnostic Center in Florida reports that among other factors, scoliosis is a known risk factor for osteoporosis.

Scoliosis Article - Page 2 - Can scoliosis be prevented?

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