Scoliosis: Bad Posture is Not Good. Your Lawrenceville GA Chiropractor Can Help Correct It

Our nervous system functions via reflexes and postures to keep our spine in a straight line from side to side. This is the reason why we are able to stand and walk with our 2 feet. There are also possibilities that lateral curvature can occur which can cause changes in body posture. This may be normal, but if the curvature is greater than 10 degrees, it is abnormal which also has been associated with a lower quality of life. The abnormal lateral curvature of the spine is referred to as scoliosis. Reducing scoliotic curvatures comes out to be a highly regarded objective for chiropractic treatment.

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine in which the curve is shaped like a letter S or C. It is more likely to be painless and does not get worse. Sometimes, the curve does not last for a long time and this may be caused by muscle spasms, inflammation, or unequal leg lengths. A curve that is not temporary can be a result from birth defect or another disease. There are also some circumstances that the curvature worsens over time and can trigger back pain or difficulty in breathing, which may require intervention.

Scoliosis usually occurs in late childhood and in early teens, a period in life where children grow rapidly. It can run in families and is more likely to occur in girls than boys. Some symptoms include leaning to one side and having uneven shoulders and hips. Scoliosis can also be accompanied with lordosis which is characterized by an abnormal anterior curvature, or kyphosis which is characterized by an abnormal posterior curvature. There are also cases that the cause of the scoliosis is unknown. This is referred to as idiopathic scoliosis.

How does chiropractic treatment help a patient with scoliosis?

Combined scoliotic population of children and adults are seeking complementary and alternative therapy which includes chiropractic care. Approximately 2.7 million patients go to chiropractic clinics to receive treatment for scoliosis and its related complaints. Your chiropractor Lawrenceville GA uses spinal manipulative therapy with the combination of other types of adjunctive therapies including Pilates, stretching and massage, therapeutic exercises, orthotics, and passive physiotherapeutic modalities such as ultrasound or electric stimulation. How your chiropractor uses intervention depends on your case.

Chiropractic treatment for scoliosis is much effective if done with exercise. A clinical study shows that chiropractic treatment can reduce scoliotic curvatures by 17 degrees with the use of spinal manipulation and neuromuscular rehabilitation. Another study shows that the Pettibon system, a rehabilitation program for the soft and hard tissues of the spine, reduced the curvature by 15 degrees.

What should I expect from my chiropractor upon treatment?

Upon treatment, your Lawrenceville GA chiropractor performs spinal adjustments by which pressure to the joints is applied. This is done from different angles to increase the effect. Your chiropractor works on your back to train your muscles to move properly.

There are also some devices that can help realign the spine without restricting too much movement such as back brace, and devices that can support balance of the leg length. These devices can improve spinal balance and function.

Your Lawrenceville chiropractor may also recommend exercises such as leg, arm and back exercises, yoga, and Pilate poses and movements. To obtain faster recovery from scoliosis, nutritional supplements may be recommended by your chiropractor.