Scoliosis and Chiropractic Care

Though scoliosis is very common, and many experience only mild symptoms, the condition can lead to chronic pain and discomfort for others. At PMR, our primary goal is to help our patients move forward from pain with confidence. With that in mind, we’ll examine the causes, symptoms, and available treatments for scoliosis, including chiropractic options.

What is scoliosis?

Most commonly occurring in children and adolescents just before puberty, scoliosis is a lateral, or sideways, curvature in the straight line of the spine. There are many types of scoliosis, including degenerative scoliosis, neuromuscular scoliosis, and idiopathic scoliosis. (By the way: scoliosis is not technically a “disease,” but a term used to describe this common spinal curvature.)

What causes scoliosis?

There are many different possible causes of scoliosis—with symptoms usually beginning at a young age—and each of the types listed above has different root causes. Degenerative scoliosis is usually caused by injury or illness, while neuromuscular scoliosis is caused by other nerve and muscle conditions, such as cerebral palsy. In fact, idiopathic scoliosis—which has no known cause—is the most common type.

Does scoliosis require treatment?

The large majority of scoliosis cases—about 90%—are mild enough that they don’t require treatment, though they should be monitored regularly by doctors, as scoliosis can sometimes lead to more severe and disabling problems as people age.

The degree of the curve will largely determine whether treatment is required—and what type of treatment is used—though other factors may also be significant. For adolescents with curves under 40 degrees, bracing is the usual treatment choice. Bracing won’t straighten the spine, but it can stop the problem from progressing. Rarely, for more significant curves, surgery may be necessary.

 How does chiropractic care treat scoliosis and its symptoms?

Chiropractor care may be used as a supplemental form of treatment for more serious scoliosis, or in milder cases, where invasive treatments aren’t necessary. To begin with, it’s important to understand that chiropractic spinal manipulation can’t fully straighten the spine or eliminate the curvature associated with scoliosis. However, chiropractors can alleviate much of the pain and discomfort associated with scoliosis.

At PMR, our specialists may also use other modalities to treat patients with scoliosis, depending on their needs and concerns. As always, our holistic, comprehensive approaches to treatment are tailored to each individual that walks through our doors.

To learn more about scoliosis treatment and chiropractic care, contact us at PMR today!