What Causes Scoliosis?
Scoliosis could be a very serious condition. It effects millions of people in America alone. While it may cause chronic pain throughout the back it can also cause more serious and life-threatening symptoms such as difficulty breathing, digestive issues, and even complications during pregnancy. The most common type of scoliosis is Idiopathic Scoliosis which has no identifiable cause but doctors think it could be related to hereditary factors. Other types of scoliosis can be caused by birth defects or neuromuscular conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. There is a seven to one ratio of girls to boys who develop scoliosis. Most scoliosis will begin to be present between the ages of 9-15. Doctors have found that a family history of scoliosis increases one’s risk of being diagnosed with this condition. Current medical treatments of scoliosis include braces and surgery, however neither of these solutions is actually aimed at correcting or fixing the sideways curvature of the spine; instead they hope to stop the progression beyond a certain point.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help With Scoliosis?
A Doctor of Chiropractic is trained to correct malpositioned vertebrae (subluxations), this is their main focus when treating patients. It would then be logical to think that chiropractic care could help to realign the malpositioned vertebrae that appear with scoliosis cases. Chiropractic care can gently manipulate the spine into a more proper alignment. Chiropractic care cannot guarantee results in treating scoliosis, however in most cases studies have shown that at the very least chiropractic can slow or even stop the progression of scoliosis, if not correct the degree of curvature. The earlier scoliosis can be detected, the more likely it is that it can be kept from becoming a major health concern. While many people may see good results through chiropractic care, unfortunately most of the time scoliosis cannot be completely corrected. We always do our very best to make sure our patients receive the best care for them and their specific health concerns including the diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis.
