At Align Healing Center, I see a wide range of developmental and pain conditions. Out of every condition that I treat, there is nothing more rewarding than helping a child to reduce their degree of their scoliotic curve. All ages can suffer from the negative effects of scoliosis; however, children who are diagnosed and treated between the ages of 8-14 years of age have the best capability to reduce their curve. Adults can certainly suffer from the effects of scoliosis as well, however, since their spines are mature, they are much less likely to have a structural improvement.
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a diagnosis, which is used to describe a lateral curve of the spine in either a C-shape or an S-shape. At this moment, we do not know what causes it, yet signs have shown that genetics may be a factor. There are many different types of scoliosis but they can all be put in two major categories.
1. Structural: the bones are actually physically shaped in a manor that causes the spine to curve. Typically this is congenital, however, traumas to the spine, or degeneration of the spine can also cause this as well.
2. Functional: muscles and ligaments have shortened and weakened causing the spine to curve unnecessarily. Most often this develops over time and is not something that a child is born with but it can develop over the first 8 to 14 years. There are many theories as to what causes functional scoliosis, however, at this point it is still unknown.
Why is scoliosis an issue?
The spine houses the spinal cord. If there are abnormal curves in the spine, it may cause pinching or pulling on the spinal cord and affect spinal nerve roots. This can impair the function of the nerve and cause pain as well as dysfunction to whatever muscle or organ that nerve innervates.
How do I know if my child has scoliosis?
The determination of scoliosis can most often be done through a physical examination but in some cases, x-rays may be required in order to measure the degree of spinal curvature or to determine if there are any malformations in the vertebrae themselves that could be causing the scoliosis.
What are the signs and symptoms I should look out for in my child?
If you notice abnormal posture in your child or teen, there may be a possibility that they have scoliosis. Here are some things to look out for:
• One shoulder is higher than another
• One hip is higher than another
• One side of the ribcage protrudes more than the other
• Lower back hump when bending forward
What are the treatment options?
Treatment varies greatly depending on the type of scoliosis. Structural scoliosis will most likely need more invasive treatments whereas functional scoliosis can have a reduction of curvature with gentle chiropractic care and class IV laser therapy. The earlier that scoliosis is diagnosed, the better the overall outcome will be. As spines grow and mature, it becomes much harder to treat.
If you suspect that your child may have scoliosis, feel free to call my office and schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation and a visual scoliosis check. This will help to determine if more investigation is necessary. For more information, visit us at www.alignhealingcenter.com.
Dr. Kristin Moore, DC is a prenatal and pediatric chiropractor at Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. She offers a complimentary 15-minute consultation to the readers of ALIVE magazine. Call Dr. Kristin at (925) 362-8283 to schedule your appointment.
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