Some have heard the term and think they know what is and some may even know someone who has the condition. You may even be a parent with a child who has scoliosis but aren’t really sure what exactly you can do for your child. Some adults are living with scoliosis and some may not even know they have it. So what exactly is scoliosis and what can you do if you or a loved one has it?
What Is It?
A healthy spine from the side will have three curves. The first curve at the neck, the second mid way down the back (thoracic spine) and then one in the lower back or lumbar spine. When a patient presents with scoliosis, there is an abnormal curve to the side when looking at the spine straight on.
Why Does This Occur
The cause is unknown however the condition begins to develop in childhood when the child is in a growth period and the spine is supposed to be developing.
Are There Ramifications?
When the structure of any machine is changed, there will be ramifications. Your body is a machine. The body will adapt to what it’s presented. How well it adapts depends partially upon the severity of the stressor and partially upon the reserves of energy that exist for the body to utilize. The degree to which these ramifications affect function is a different story.
Common structural changes that result from scoliosis are uneven shoulders, one shoulder blade appearing more prominent than the other, one side of the rib cage appearing more prominent than the other, uneven waist or tilted waist, and/or one hip higher than the other.
When the scoliotic curve is large, there are more structural changes in the body which means greater effects to the nervous system and organs. When determining the severity of the curve, the Cobb angle is used. When the Cobb angle reaches between 40-45 degrees in adolescents, surgery is often times suggested and between 50-55 degrees for adults. Most cases of scoliosis do not result in surgeries as there are many other options prior to that measure.
Can Adults Get Adjusted?
Yes! Every individual is going to be unique in their own way as each case is different. Although some may be severe, most do not fall into that category and with modifications and adjustments the scoliosis can be treated. Working with a chiropractor can help manage the pain and other symptoms and improve nervous system function as well as range of motion.
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons estimate that 6 to 9 million people in the United States have scoliosis. Some may present with some form of back pain where other patients may not. However, with scoliosis, there are structural changes to the body that need to be addressed to make sure that the body is functioning the way that it should be. If you are looking for a chiropractor in Atlanta, Georgia to help you manage your symptoms, contact our team today at (404) 855-2141 for a consultation!