Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a deformity distinguished by a lateral deviation of the vertebral spine towards the right or the left, in the shape of an “S” or “C”. This deviation may be joined by a vertebral rotation or by a gibbosity (hunchback).

This spinal deformity can have a variety of causes. Despite the similar physical aspect of the many different types, scoliosis may have very different prognostics, depending on the cause, the difference in progressiveness and severity of the curves.

There is also the scoliotic attitude, different from the real scoliosis, which, in 80% of the cases, happens due to an asymmetry in the size of the legs, and vanishes when the patient is in the horizontal position

Signals and symptoms:
At the beginning, the scoliosis may be progressive or acute. Progressive scoliosis is more common in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (of unknown causes), which usually afflicts females. When the scoliosis is acute, the problem is usually more serious, like deterioration of the disc, a tumor or even a fracture.
In the standing position you can observe a curve in the spine of the patient, one shoulder in a different level than the other. To compensate, the head tilts to one side and the patient may present a difference in leg sizes.

Treatment:
The risk of progression of the scoliosis must be evaluated, and the risk-benefit of each treatment must be considered.
It is important to look for a competent professional to evaluate the case because, in extreme cases, scoliosis may cause cardiopulmonary complications and reduction of the intervertebral foramen (the canal through which the nerve passes in the spine gets thinner) which damages the nerve supply of different organs. Every six months the patient should have a radiography done, to keep a follow up until skeletal maturity.

Among the treatments recommended for scoliosis, Chiropractic is greatly indicated. The chiropractor performs orthopedic and neurological tests, analyses radiographies and detects the misalignments in the vertebral spine and other joints, and adjusts them (joint repositioning) thus realigning the backbone.

It is important to look for professionals with at least a university degree in Chiropractic, don’t let anyone who is not prepared manipulate your vertebral spine.