United Family Chiropractic Center

Scoliosis Article – Part 2

Can scoliosis be prevented?

Now that we know what scoliosis is and how it is detected, what can we do as parents to prevent the curve from progressing? Is scoliosis treatable?

There are a few studies that show when the curve is less than 20 degrees, there are possible treatments. Catching scoliosis early is always your best chance for curve changes.

In fact, poor posture was thought to be an important contributing factor in the development of scoliosis in the early 19th century and in the U.S., posture training was one of the primary treatments for scoliosis in that era. It fell out of favor in the later years of the 19th century, as bracing and surgery became the preferred treatment of orthopedic doctors.

Scoliosis and spinal manipulation studies:

However, in a 2001 study performed in Hong Kong, “A long-lasting active spinal control could be achieved through the patient’s own spinal muscles.”

Other publications in Spine including studies done in Japan and in Sweden have suggested that a disturbance of postural equilibrium exists in idiopathic scoliosis patients:

“In Germany, the triad of outpatient physiotherapy, intensive inpatient rehabilitation and bracing has proven effective in conservative scoliosis treatments. The positive outcomes of this practice validate a policy of offering conservative scoliosis treatment as an alternative to patients, including those for whom surgery is indicated.”

A 2004 study of 19 patients by a group of chiropractors found that the combined use of spinal manipulation and postural therapy appeared to significantly reduce the severity of the curvature angle in all the subjects.

It is interesting to note that one of the methods the chiropractors used to treat the patients was traction, a treatment that was popular for spinal curvature in the early 1900’s.

Scoliosis and exercise:

Besides posture training, exercise is also considered important for scoliosis prevention and treatment in the United States. In a 1992 study in Croatica, greater occurrences of scoliosis were observed in children with limited physical activity.

Researchers from The Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, in Wellington, New Zealand, reported on a case of a young boy with progressive juvenile idiopathic scoliosis. They found that there was rapid improvement in this child’s spinal status achieved by physiological traction and specifically designed exercises.

Furthermore, a preliminary report on the effect of measured strength training in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis from a spine clinic in San Diego reports that out of 12 patients treated with strength training, four reduced their curves by 20 to 28 degrees.

Scoliosis and children:

Children with mild scoliosis treated with chiropractic adjustments have shown a reduction in their spinal curvature, according to the findings of a three year, $143,000 study funded by the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research. Charles “Skip” Lantz, DC, PhD, director of research of Life Chiropractic College West and his associates conducted this cohort study.

The researchers were studying the effects of chiropractic full-spine procedures such as adjustments, heel-lifts and postural counseling on children 9 to 15 years old with mild idiopathic scoliosis (less than 20 degrees of curvature with no complicating conditions). Scoliosis is a biomechanical problem deserving a biomechanical treatment, and should be advanced by biomechanical specialists such as chiropractors.

Scoliosis, check early and often:

Ultimately we need to check our children’s posture as they go through their growth spurts and check for the beginning signs of scoliosis. If there seems to be an indication, seek out a health professional who can properly evaluate and treat the spinal curvatures before they grow too severe to be treated conservatively.

About the author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has completed extended courses on pediatrics that go above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Her office, United Family Chiropractic Center, is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Drive West, Suite D in Simi Valley, CA. Dr. Greeley can be reached at (805) 522-2324.

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

What is scoliosis? Part 1

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.

In addition, 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?