People of all ages can get scoliosis, a spine curvature disorder that the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) says affects an estimated 5 to 8 million people in the US. The condition can be effectively treated in children, adolescents, and adults. Traditional treatment includes painkillers, bracing, or surgery. Surgery is typically recommended if bracing does stop the progression of the spinal curve or the curve is more than 45 degrees. But surgery is invasive and may not alleviate all the symptoms.
At Integrative Chiropractic Health & Wellness in Hoover, AL, we specialize in providing non-invasive, drug-free scoliosis treatment for adults. So, if you or your loved one is affected by acute or chronic pain associated with scoliosis and have not gotten relief from conventional treatment then chiropractic care may help.
What is Scoliosis?
A normal spine has a regular C or S shape when viewed from the side but straight when viewed from the back. In people with scoliosis, the C or S curve appears sideways when viewed from the back. The irregularity may occur anywhere along the spine and happens due to an abnormality in the spinal structure or changes that cause the vertebrae to twist or rotate.
When the spine is out of normal alignment, it can affect the spinal joints, bones, discs, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that make up the musculoskeletal system. Neck or back pain are typical symptoms although other symptoms may be present.
Types of Scoliosis
These are the four main types of scoliosis that can affect children and adults:
- Congenital Scoliosis – Present at birth due to bone abnormalities.
- Idiopathic Scoliosis – This type is most common in children and adults, is hereditary, and develops unexpectedly for unknown reasons.
- Adult Degenerative Scoliosis – Wear and tear or degeneration of the spine due to aging is a common cause. It could also develop due to spinal surgery, osteoporosis (weakened bone), or bone deformity.
- Neuromuscular Scoliosis – Caused by an abnormal formation of the nerve or muscles and is most commonly seen in patients with spinal bifida, muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy.
While it is ideal for scoliosis to be detected in childhood and treated, many cases go undetected until adulthood. By this time, skeletal growth is complete and the curves may have increased in severity. Pain and other symptoms may then develop and require treatment to prevent them from interfering with your quality of life.
Scoliosis Signs and Symptoms
General unevenness is a common sign of scoliosis. The shoulder may appear tilted to one side or one of the shoulder blades may protrude. One rib cage may be more visible than the other, one hip may be higher than the other, or the waistline may be uneven. People with scoliosis also have balance or gait problems. When the curve interferes with the musculoskeletal structures these symptoms may develop:
- Neck pain
- Upper back pain
- Lower back pain
- Leg pain
- Numbness or tingling due to a pinched nerve
- Muscle weakness
Chiropractic Treatment for Scoliosis
The appropriate chiropractic wellness plan will depend on several factors including age, type of scoliosis, and the kind, location, and degree of the curve. Regardless, the goal of scoliosis treatment at our clinic is to regulate spinal position, posture, and balance by rehabilitating the neuromuscular system. The comprehensive scoliosis treatment plan includes non-surgical structural correction combined with other techniques designed to reduce pain and improve spinal alignment.
Structural Correction Chiropractic
This involves safe, gentle spinal adjustments to help restore the spine to its natural position. Prior to adjustment, the spinal structures may be prepped using gentle traction or vibration therapy to loosen up the bones, joints, and connective tissue. These methods help to reduce pain, improve flexibility, and increase blood circulation to the spine to jumpstart the healing process.
Realigning the spine also reduces neck and back pain as well as relieve the pressure on the discs, nerves, and soft tissue. Releasing the pinched nerve helps to stop leg pain, numbness, and tingling and improve nervous system function.
The Scoliosis Chair
As the name suggests, this chair is specially designed to treat scoliosis. It delivers gentle traction to de-rotate the affected segment of the spine. This gradually reduces the depth of the scoliosis curve, slow or prevent its progression, and improve the overall structural appearance of the spine. Better spinal alignment reduces unevenness, improves posture and gait, and restores balance.
Receive natural scoliosis treatment in Hoover, AL
Added to the range of benefits, chiropractic care for scoliosis at Integrative Chiropractic Health & Wellness can also decrease the chance of surgery. Our chiropractor, Dr. Ryan Russell, is certified in scoliosis treatment and has years of expertise performing structural correction and helping patients manage pain. Each patient undergoes a comprehensive evaluation to diagnosis the condition and determines if chiropractic care is suitable for them. Call 205-637-1363 to schedule an appointment today.
