Since we’ve finally figured out this whole UFO thing, there are few things in life that remain a mystery. We’ve even landed on a consensus for the meaning of life: “get rich, die trying”. All we have left at this point is: Who killed Jon Benet?…and…Why do cows only face North or South while eating?…and…What do we do about scoliosis?
Scoliosis affects 5% of children and adolescents and about 3% of the general population, but the causes aren’t well understood and it’s still a bit difficult to treat. There’s no definitive cure for scoliosis, which is a huge bummer, but as a chiropractor for scoliosis I know that by addressing the underlying cause we can better manage scoliosis, reduce the symptoms, and stop it from progressing. This strategy does not rely on braces, prescription pain medication, or surgery, all of which come with risks and side effects, and don’t actually address what is going on with the structure of the spine. These are lazy solutions and I shake my head at them.
With natural scoliosis treatments like chiropractic care, we’ve seen an improvement of 10% – 30% while undergoing chiropractic adjustments for scoliosis and targeted spinal exercises. Those are numbers we can get behind.
Signs and Symptoms of Scoliosis
Scoliosis is the #1 spinal problem affecting adolescent children, most diagnoses are made between 10-15 years old during growth spurt around puberty…a time we all remember fondly. Older adults are not immune from a scoliosis diagnosis. Here are some things to look for:
- Pain in the back
- Leaning of the body toward one side
- One hip higher than the other
- One shoulder blade higher than the other
- Uneven waistline
- Head off-center
- “S” or “C” shaped spine
- Numbness or tingling in the limbs, fingers, or toes
- Loss of balance
- Accelerated aging of spinal discs
- Decreased lung volume
- Stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety are such classic symptoms of literally any health anomaly. It’s a symptom of being alive. Add this to the list of life’s great mysteries.
Those with scoliosis suffer a 14-year reduction in their life expectancy because of strains on the heart, reduced oxygen supply to the body, lung impairments, headaches, shortness of breath, digestive problems, chronic disease, and hip, knee, and leg pains.
Underlying Causes of Scoliosis
Scoliosis is nondiscriminatory, it can affect anyone with a spine…and that’s everyone. Well, not everyone…
Both sexes can develop scoliosis, but for some reason, females are 2-3x more likely to develop it than males. Sorry ladies. The risk increases with age. No one can seem to agree on the exact causes of scoliosis, but it seems to be a combo platter of:
- Diet
- Family history and genetics
- Abnormal bone development
- Hormonal imbalances
- Problems with the brain recognizing proper symmetry, alignment, or orientation
There is a recurrence of scoliosis among family members 25%-35% of the time, some gene mutations affect calcium storage in our bones. But genes aren’t our fate!
Lifestyle choices and habits can offset the hereditary factors that make us more susceptible to developing any disease, including scoliosis. In my time as a chiropractor treating scoliosis patients, I’ve seen that they usually have a few things in common.
- A poor diet, low nutrient intake (magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin K)
- Hypermobility, “double-jointed”
- Poor posture
- Delayed puberty or hormonal issues
- Postmenopause
- Low body weight
- Being a competitive or weak athlete
- Suffering from other connective tissue, arthritic, or nerve conditions
Natural Treatment for Scoliosis
Scoliosis is merely a symptom of a deeper mechanical dysfunction of the spine.
No two patients have the same alignment, degree of damage, bone density, or spine curvature. This means that the best treatment for such a unique condition is a customized treatment. We’re all beautiful, angelic snowflakes. Spinal bracing, “watching and waiting”, and surgery lack the individualization that is required to be effective. Scoliosis demands a customized treatment. The best medicine for scoliosis is chiropractic care!
23% of those that wear braces end up having spinal fusion surgery, braces can be emotionally scarring for kids and adolescents, surgery can cause permanent inflexibility and loss of certain functions.
The best news about chiropractic care for scoliosis is that it is all-natural! Research shows that lifestyle changes in conjunction with chiropractic care and targeted exercises pose less risk of causing permanent damage, cost less, and give patients the opportunity to harness the innate power of their bodies to heal and recover.
Chiropractic care prevents scoliosis curvature from getting worse and greatly improves a patient’s quality of life. Chiropractic is interested in how the entire body functions as one unit. Its goal is to improve the body’s innate ability to heal itself by restoring proper alignment of the spine and proper functioning of the nervous system.
But wait there’s more! Studies show that chiropractic care improves spinal curvature, decreases pain, and increases flexibility through a combination of spinal adjustments and decompression. The freedom of scoliosis pain relief and improved range of motion makes it easier to strengthen the core muscles to support a healthy spinal structure.
We don’t believe anyone in our community should have to suffer through pain or the emotional frustration pain can cause, and we won’t give up just because someone says there isn’t a “cure”. Call us or schedule a time to meet with one of our amazing doctors!
