Scoliosis

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine or a section of the spine that affects about 3% of adolescents. It tends to show up during the substantial growth spurt that many people experience right before puberty.

In addition to a curved spine, scoliosis can also make you have:

An uneven waist
One hip higher up than the other
Mismatched shoulders

Most cases of scoliosis are mild and don’t require treatment. Some cases, however, can be more severe and can produce debilitating effects.

What is the cause of scoliosis?

In most cases of scoliosis, there isn’t a clear identifiable cause, though many researchers think that genetics might be at play, as the condition tends to run in families.

When a case of scoliosis does have a clear cause, however, that cause can be put into one of two categories: structural and nonstructural.

Structural scoliosis

Structural scoliosis causes a curved spine that is rigid and can’t be easily straightened out. It can be caused by a number of conditions, including:

Genetic conditions like Down syndrome or Marfan syndrome
Tumors
Infections
Congenital disabilities
Muscular dystrophy
Cerebral palsy

Nonstructural scoliosis

In nonstructural scoliosis, the spine looks curved but otherwise functions normally. It tends to be due to a separate condition, such as:

Muscle spasms
Inflammatory conditions like appendicitis
Physical irregularities, like legs of uneven length

Once the condition causing the nonstructural scoliosis is treated, the scoliosis itself tends to disappear.

The experts at Mustang Chiropractic can work with you to determine your particular cause of scoliosis and devise a treatment plan to help you correct it or at least manage any discomfort it’s causing.

Can scoliosis lead to other conditions?

Most cases of scoliosis are mild enough that they don’t cause any particularly harmful effects and don’t require treatment, but some cases can lead to worrisome conditions. Some of the complications associated with scoliosis include:

Heart and lung damage

If your scoliosis is severe enough, it can sometimes cause your rib cage to press up against your heart and lungs, making it more difficult to pump blood and breath properly

Back issues

Severe scoliosis can lead to chronic back pain as you get older.

Altered appearance

Scoliosis can begin to affect your appearance if it progresses far enough, leaving your hips and shoulders to look uneven and making your rib cage more prominent.

How do you treat scoliosis?

The professionals at Mustang Chiropractic first take digital X-rays of your back to get a better understanding of your particular case of scoliosis. After a thorough assessment of your unique curvature, the team develops a customized treatment plan to correct your scoliosis and manage any discomfort it might be causing. Your treatment plan might include: