Scoliosis Diagnosis, Treatment & Chiropractic Spinal Care in Chicago
Scoliosis is a condition that we at Advanced Spine and Sports Care hold close to our hearts and work towards helping treat each day. Specializing in the detection and correction of Scoliosis, the experts at Advanced Spine and Sports Care are experienced in treating this awful condition without the use of drugs or surgery. For decades, our clinic uses the testimonials and experiences of teens and other patients suffering from a scoliosis curve and using their experiences to develop plans that do not require drugs or surgery and stop teens and adults from suffering any longer.
If you’ve ever seen a model of your spine, you know that it curves from front to back, but that is travels in a straight line down the center of a person’s back. When a spine curves to the left and/or right, we measure that extent of the curve in degrees. Generally, anything over a 10 degree curve is considered scoliosis.
There are two major kinds of scoliosis: structural and non-structural. Non-structural is often the easiest to treat because the curvature of the spine has been caused by something in particular, like a muscle spasm or one leg being longer than the other. In cases of non-structural scoliosis, if the underlying cause is treated, the scoliosis will typically heal on its own.
Structural scoliosis is more complicated because the spine is often rigid and therefore the curve cannot be straightened. The curve will have started as a baby’s vertebrae were developing, but depending on the extent of the curve and the rapidity of onset, the scoliosis may not be noticed until the teen years. Scoliosis often becomes readily diagnosable shortly after major growth spurts.
Scoliosis can go hand in hand with other physical developmental issues, like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and Down syndrome. Scoliosis also tends to run in families so if parents have scoliosis, they should keep a watchful eye on their children as they grow. While girls and boys develop scoliosis at about the same rate, the curvature among girls tends to be more extreme. Doctors are unclear about why this happens.
In patients with more extreme curvatures, scoliosis can cause a number of physical and emotional health issues. Most serious are curvatures that reduce lung or heart function. Other side effects can be pain and discomfort and a limit to a patient’s physical activity level. These issues can often be addressed medically or therapeutically.
But for many scoliosis patients, especially teens, the emotional impact of scoliosis can seem far worse than the physical impact. As we all know, the teen years can be rough for even the most self-assured kids. Because they “look different,” teens with noticeable scoliosis are often teased by peers.
While this is a difficult – and in some cases nearly impossible – aspect of scoliosis to avoid, getting teens involved in organizations and activities in which they can excel and make bonds with their peers often goes a long way in mitigating the emotional trauma of teasing. Some teens with scoliosis can even participate in sports, but for those that have more sever curvatures, music, art, and other creative or technology-based endeavors are proven to boost self-esteem and limit the consequences of teen teasing and bullying. It is of primary importance that parents be the shepherds and guides for teens with scoliosis and help their children develop happy and fulfilling lives.
Main Causes Scoliosis
What Exactly are the Main Causes Scoliosis?
Your spine is a fascinating structure, made of 25 vertebral bones that are on top of one another, each one separated by a soft gel disc. These discs help the spine form a straight line, supporting the body through all activities. A healthy, straight spine is essential, and when it curves or twists, it is considered abnormal and crooked. A common spinal condition referred to as Scoliosis. In many cases of that suffering from Scoliosis, the main causes are unknown. The unfortunate reality of Scoliosis is that the:
- Vertebrae and structure of the discs in the spine
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Muscles
All seem to be normal, which makes it difficult to identify the cause. In some cases of Scoliosis, it is caused by conditions including:
- Tumors
- Infection
- Cerebral Palsy
- Muscular dystrophy
- Birth deformities
Fortunately, most of those living with Scoliosis can live healthy and happy lives but never know they have it. Though you can not die from Scoliosis, it can be extremely uncomfortable and even make you more susceptible to onset arthritis, heart problems, issues breathing, and chronic pain.
The Fear of Overtreatment
Scoliosis sounds like a scary condition, and if your child has been diagnosed with it, you may think that taking radical approaches to fix it is the right answer. Scoliosis is often overtreated. This means that when diagnosed with Scoliosis, parents, and teens often opt for surgery and other treatments like back braces.
At Advanced Spine and Sports Care, we strongly recommend that if your child or teen has been diagnosed with Scoliosis, do not choose surgery and brace options right away. Explore all of your options, including chiropractic care. Our specialty at Advanced Spine and Sports Care is spinal injuries and treating them naturally without the use of medicine or drugs. If your child has been diagnosed with Scoliosis, come to our clinic today for a consultation, and a member of our team will work directly one on one with your child, taking away any discomfort that your child may have.
Are Braces Helpful for Treating Scoliosis?
Common braces are not to be trusted and should be avoided at all times. Choosing a back brace immediately after diagnoses can not only be scarring for your child as they get older, but it can actually do more damage than good. If you are interested in back braces to treat Scoliosis, contact Advanced Spine and Sports Care to book a consultation.
Best Chicago Chiropractic Care for Treatment of Scoliosis & Related Conditions
Can Chiropractic Care Help the Treatment of Scoliosis ?
There are three basic treatments for scoliosis: observation, back braces, and surgery. Back braces are usually only used on children who have not yet stopped growing, in order to attempt to get the spine to be less curved as it grows. Surgery is generally reserved for patients with severe curvature that impacts their ability to live normal lives or causes damage to internal organs.
Thankfully, observation is the most common path after diagnosis of scoliosis. This is where chiropractic comes in. Although there are no substantial medical studies that demonstrate that spinal manipulation, therapeutic exercise, and electrical muscle stimulation can reduce spinal curvature, many patients with scoliosis find these treatments helpful in releasing tension and easing pain or discomfort that many sometimes accompany scoliosis. These treatments may also help keep a patient’s spine happy and healthy as they age, and reduce the possibility of injury down the line.
Advanced Spine & Sports Care’s Chiropractic Approach to Scoliosis Treatments in Chicago
Chiropractic Approach to Scoliosis with Advanced Spine and Sports Care
The purpose of chiropractic care is to provide proper functioning of the nervous system and the body as a whole. Recent research shows that chiropractic care not only physically provides relief from pain and stress caused by Scoliosis but also mentally. This removes the need for drugs and welcomes personalized attention. At Advanced Spine and Sports Care, our approach is simple. We first meet with the patient and diagnose the condition of the complication while asking questions such as time of diagnosis, pain levels, and levels of discomfort. Your chiropractor will then take the patient’s unique situation and create a plan that is designed specifically for the patient and their current condition. This approach is proven to be successful as the patient being treated is comfortable, doing exercises and treatments that they can physically do with improvements.
Though these are just a few cases of Scoliosis being improved by chiropractic care, the difference it makes is unquestionable. So, if you or your child is suffering from Scoliosis and you want them and you to be happier and healthier, contact Advanced Spine and Sports Care today!