It’s not just a hunch, Scoliosis: Treating the Curve
#BeavertonHealth&Happiness
Our spines are both literally and figuratively the backbone to our entire body. As you probably know, our spine is not one bone. It is actually a series of smaller bones separated into 3 groups along with discs, nerves, muscles, and ligaments to name a few. This allows our spine to bend and curve, while supporting our body and protecting the spinal cord. A healthy spine has a natural “S’’ type of curve that occurs naturally.
Scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, is an abnormal exaggeration of the curve. A hunch in the back is what usually comes to mind, but there are many types of scoliosis. Common symptoms can also include back pain, loss in range in motion, and physical leaning to one side. Doctors often watch for it to develop in children, however it still shows up more often than you would think in adults.
As with most conditions, the earlier caught the better when it comes to treatment. Success depends on a lot of factors, but we have come a long way in our understanding of the spine, and there are now a variety of treatments available.
In early stages, back braces are often used to prevent the spine from getting further out of alignment. If there is abnormal curvature, a variety of consertive treatments are proven to help the spine into better alignment. Chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, Bowen therapy, and Tensegrity Medicine all have specific treatments that have been proven to reduce or relieve scoliosis.
Surgery is the traditional and more extreme treatment that involves fusing the spine and installing rods. This has the most severe side effects including permanent loss of mobility, but can be the only effective option in severe cases.
It can be hard to notice when we slowly start losing range of motion, or that low back ache that hasn’t gone away. Remember, if you notice you have difficulty with normal tasks or pain rearing its ugly head and sticking around, be sure to get it checked; the earlier the better.
D’Vida offers integration with acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage from real trained experts who want one thing; to get you better. With over 200 5-star reviews, patients seem to agree. Call today. 503-626 2166.
