How To Fix Scoliosis With Chiropractic Care
Scoliosis is an abnormality of the spine, causing it to curve sideways. While it may not seem like a widespread condition, around 3 percent of the U.S. population is affected by scoliosis, totaling around 7 million people.
The exact cause of this abnormality is unknown. But doctors and researchers have speculated that it involves hereditary factors as the condition can run in families.
There is a 90 percent chance of falling into a category where your scoliosis is not critical enough for surgery but is still sufficiently painful to affect your daily life. Some of the effects of scoliosis can include:
- Chronic back pain (which is the primary result of this condition)
- Spinal curvature that progresses over time
- Potential deformities
- Cerebral palsy
- Muscular dystrophy
Patients can be born with scoliosis, but the majority of cases are diagnosed just before puberty due to the growth spurts that occur around this time — making spinal abnormalities more noticeable.
The onset of scoliosis may require several lifestyle changes to help reduce the symptoms associated with the condition, as well as to help prevent further curvature of the spine.
Even mild cases of scoliosis can cause significant pain, impacting the quality of life. Due to the condition changing the integrity of the spine, and bending it into an irregular position, this can lead to a variety of complications. If spinal curvature worsens, it can cause internal organ disruptions or damage, leaving individuals with a more sedentary lifestyle.
What Are Common Signs and Symptoms of Scoliosis
Scoliosis traditionally has a slow onset, which can make it difficult to detect at first. It’s a progressive disorder that gradually intensifies over a lifetime. When it starts, your symptoms will likely be mild — even undetectable — most of the time.
For a pre-pubescent child or adolescent, these symptoms tend to intensify during growth spurts because the body is rapidly developing, affecting the appearance of the spine. Most people are diagnosed with scoliosis when they’re between the ages of 10 and 11.
Other common signs and symptoms that can develop over time include:
- An uneven girth to your waist (one side of the hip is higher than the other)
- One shoulder becoming larger than the other, making them appear uneven
- One side of the rib cage extending forward
- One side of your back becoming more pronounced, appearing as a bulge, especially when bending over
The symptoms and the array of back problems caused by scoliosis can often be confused with other conditions, like average back pain or a herniated disc. That’s why it’s important to visit your doctor or medical practitioner to get these concerns examined and diagnosed.
While scoliosis causes back pain, several other medical conditions, disorders, or daily activities, like lifting heavy objects, can also cause discomfort of the spine. In order to properly protect the health and wellbeing of your spine and back, it is important to not delay seeing a chiropractor or your primary care physician if pain persists. When back pain goes untreated, it is common for the effects to compound and diminish your overall health. Back pain is the leading cause of work-day loss, showcasing the importance of taking care of your spine and surrounding muscles.
How To Fix Scoliosis With Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic care is a holistic, natural method of scoliosis treatment that can help manage symptoms without the need for prescription medication, bracing, or surgery.
Chiropractic treatment of scoliosis will focus on identifying the severity of your case, what potential triggers may worsen symptoms, how to mitigate further curvature, and treatment methods to minimize pain. With scoliosis treatment, personalized care is the best way to address the condition as there is a high degree of variability in between each case.
Chiropractic care for scoliosis brings a variety of benefits, including a decrease in pain and pressure as well as improved spinal column strength, flexibility, mobility, and range of motion. Through chiropractic scoliosis treatment, you can live a more active, pain-free life.
A patient seeking chiropractic scoliosis treatment may also experience improvements in:
- Decreased muscle inflammation
- Improved respiratory function
- Posture
- Sleep quality
Working with a chiropractor to care for your scoliosis goes beyond the spinal adjustments conducted in the clinic. Your chiropractor can also offer several take-home tips and guidance on how to improve scoliosis, including:
- Strengthening and stretching exercises to support your spine and joints
- Ideas on how to stay active that won’t aggravate your symptoms
- Recommended methods on how to best rest and minimize pain
If you’re looking for other holistic approaches to scoliosis treatment, massage therapy paired with chiropractic care can be an effective combination for healing. Massage therapy targets the soft tissues that surround the spine and sections of the back. It can help alleviate muscle tightness that is associated with scoliosis. For someone who has been diagnosed with scoliosis, this pressure on the muscles and soft tissues can negatively pull on the spine, restrict movement, and add to the pain experienced daily.
While scoliosis can’t be cured, there are several ways that chiropractic care can help individuals successfully manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Through targeted spinal manipulation techniques and recommended lifestyle adjustments, the effects of scoliosis can be minimized and provide a long-term solution to the condition.
Reinhardt Chiropractic Can Treat Scoliosis
If you’re looking for a chiropractor who can treat scoliosis, Reinhardt Chiropractic can help. We are a full-service chiropractic care practice in Denver, Colorado that takes a holistic approach to chiropractic care, working to cultivate a personal, individual relationship with every patient. We see you as family and want to deliver the best care that fits your needs.
We offer a wide variety of services from spinal decompression to clinical nutrition to massage therapy, helping our patients — including those experiencing pain caused by scoliosis — achieve their optimal health. Same-day consultations and appointments are available. Schedule an appointment today to begin your journey toward pain relief.
Recent Post
Why Delayed Symptoms After an Auto Accident Shouldn’t Be Ignored
December 1, 2024
Auto accidents can be stressful and overwhelming, even when they seem minor. Often, the immediate concern is assessing visible injuries or damage, but what happens when symptoms don’t appear right away? It’s not uncommon for pain and discomfort to emerge days—or even weeks—after an accident. Ignoring these delayed symptoms can lead to long-term issues affecting
Read More…
Stay Flexible This Fall: Chiropractic Stretches
November 1, 2024
As the crisp air rolls in and the leaves begin to change, fall is the perfect time to focus on your health and flexibility. The change in seasons often brings a shift in our routines—more time spent indoors, less physical activity, and the potential for increased stiffness. At Reinhardt Chiropractic, we believe that staying flexible
Read More…