Your spine is a suit of armor protecting the most critical system in your body, the nervous system, which controls every function within your body. When a vertebra is out of place in your spine, it puts pressure on the adjacent nerves and causes symptoms like headaches, difficulty breathing, constipation, and more.
Scoliosis occurs when there is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. Depending on the location of the curvatures, these abnormalities impact nerves exiting in the thoracic and lumbar areas. Scoliosis often affects the cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive systems, leading to lung infections, pulmonary failure, irritable bowel syndrome, and more. An estimated 6-9 million people in the United States have scoliosis, or 2-3% of the country’s population. Chiropractic care is a natural, non-invasive approach to managing scoliosis.
Book Your First Scoliosis Care Exam
Exam includes in-depth whole-body analysis with provider, posture pictures and insight nervous system scans (provided if necessary). Consultation & plan of action will help you understand your care options.
Visual Signs of Scoliosis:
- Postural distortions
- One shoulder or hip higher than the other
- Leaning to one side
- Head not centered over the body
The Adams test is a preliminary check for scoliosis that observes a person’s back from behind as they bend forward to position their back parallel to the ground. If you notice one side of the back is higher than the other, that can be a sign of scoliosis. You may observe the shape of the bones in the spine as they protrude from the back. This test is often done in schools with children because the most common age to develop scoliosis is 10-15. Large growth spurts during this period can contribute to or worsen spinal curvature.
How Our Scoliosis Care Plan Works
1. Be Heard
And Understood
Quality time with a health professional, so you can be truly heard and understood, isn’t all that common. We understand that. This is why, on your first visit, you will meet with one of our doctors and share your health concerns and struggles so we can understand exactly why you are here and what you want to achieve. The doctor will determine what testing is necessary to find the source of your health concerns and answer the biggest question of all: Can Chiropractic Care Help?
2. Discover How We Can Help You
Every new patient should feel like they are making the right decision for their health. This is why our doctors explain what they are looking for in the testing, so our patients know exactly what is going on, instead of just being a bystander. We will share everything we discover from your testing and exams, including if we can help you. In the unfortunate event that we cannot help, our doctors will provide any additional resources they feel would be appropriate to assist you.
3. Achieve Your Health Goals Together
Whether you just want to be out of pain, or you want to get back to golfing without limitations, or you are desperate to get a restful night’s sleep, we will be with you every step of the way. We’ll achieve your goals
How We Treat Scoliosis in West Omaha, NE
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
Chiropractors may perform a simple scoliosis screening and other tests to detect any early signs or complications of this condition. Possible testing can include:
- Visual screening
- Physical assessment
- Postural evaluation
- Palpate the spine for tenderness and tight muscles
- Measure standing vs. sitting height
- Hip examination
- Infrared thermography
- Check for other skeletal characteristics, Range of Motion, and flexibility
- Digital X-ray
It is vital to detect any misalignments or curvatures in the spine early so they can be addressed before they develop into a bigger problem. Chiropractors specialize in detecting misalignments in the spine that can lead to developing a more pronounced curvature. When a chiropractor detects scoliosis, they can determine the degree of curvature and the best course of action for any possible correction.
The biggest obstacle in preventing or treating scoliosis is detection. Scoliosis most often progresses without symptoms. By the time symptoms present, the scoliosis curvature has affected how the body functions for quite some time.
Gontead Chiropractic Care in West Omaha, NE
Misalignments in the spine and interference with nerve pathways, known as vertebral subluxation, predispose a child or adult to a variety of visceral chronic diseases as well as the progressive condition called Scoliosis. Scoliosis is a condition where the spine becomes increasingly curved and deformed. As it progresses, scoliosis is very dangerous to vital organ function.
Family First Chiropractic uses the Gonstead Analysis system to assess patients of all ages in our office. When you come in for a scoliosis assessment, the chiropractor may:
- Examine your spine for structural shifts in posture
- Palpate the spine for tenderness and tight muscles
- Perform range of motion tests to determine how well movement occurs comparing side to side
- Assess intersegmental range of movement, in particular noting any immobile vertebra segments
To achieve an accurate diagnosis and assessment, we may, if warranted, take digital X-rays to provide a detailed view of the spine, allowing us to accurately diagnose scoliosis and determine its severity. To see is to know, and to not see is to not know. We wouldn’t want to guess a diagnosis because scoliosis can vary significantly from patient to patient in its degree and curvature, and precise measurements are necessary to tailor an effective treatment plan. X-rays help us identify specific areas of misalignment (subluxation) or abnormal curvature in the spine. This detailed insight allows us to customize chiropractic adjustments to target these problem areas, enhancing the spinal corrections’ effectiveness and improving overall spinal health and well-being.
We may conduct follow-up X-ray imaging to track the progression of the scoliosis over time. This ongoing assessment helps us gauge how well the treatment is working and adjust treatment protocols as needed to ensure optimal outcomes.
The Benefits of Chiropractic Care For Scoliosis
By detecting and correcting subluxation (misalignment of vertebrae), chiropractic adjustments can relieve pressure and irritation, reduce inflammation of the nerves, discs, and joints of the spine, and reduce pain and discomfort associated with scoliosis.
Chiropractic care is one of the most essential health-acquiring strategies a parent can seek for their children. Improved brain control, body function, growth, learning, and concentration are a few of the many side effects of Chiropractic. Very few infants and toddlers live to be teenagers without experiencing abnormal spine and nervous system health. Research proves that the sooner the human body begins Chiropractic care, the sooner the body will achieve maximum health potential.
Early detection of scoliosis is essential. Early chiropractic intervention can show corrective progress of the abnormal spinal curvature and may prevent the curvature from getting worse, resulting in a better-functioning spine and nervous system. An optimally functioning spine and nervous system will allow you to use your body how you want to and improve your quality of life!
The early detection and intervention of scoliosis with chiropractic care is a non-invasive and effective approach that can prevent you from having more invasive and expensive treatments, like surgery, down the road.
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Risk Factors and Complications of Having Scoliosis in West Omaha, NE
Risk Factors
Signs and symptoms of scoliosis typically present themselves in adolescent years but can begin much earlier than that. Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of pediatric scoliosis affecting individuals ages 10-18. Scoliosis is more common and has a higher risk of the curvature worsening in females than males. Family history can play a role in the presence of scoliosis. According to the National Scoliosis Foundation, 30% of patients with Adolescent Idiopathic scoliosis have a family member with the condition.
Numerous published studies link a connection between abnormal spinal health and decreased body function. From brain function to digestion to breathing to immunity, every function in a baby, child, or adult relates to the health of the spine and nervous system. European research in 2003 changed the perception of why infants and young children could benefit from Chiropractic. One study focused on evaluating 10-year-olds for spinal disc degeneration using MRI. Of the 154 children evaluated, 9% had degeneration in one or more spinal discs. Even more concerning is that disc degeneration had developed without any symptoms, indicating that spinal misalignments were present.
Complications of Scoliosis
Scoliosis may be caused by structural shifts in the spine, which can lead to nerve obstruction. The nervous system controls and coordinates all body functions. When structural shifts occur in the spine, they can obstruct the nerves and interfere with their function. Chiropractors correct this obstruction, called vertebral subluxation.
The increased lateral curvature of the spine can alter normal anatomical positioning of internal organs. In some cases, this may increase pressure on the heart, making it hard for the heart to pump as designed, which can restrict blood flow. This may contribute to heart problems such as irregular heart rhythms, heart valve disease, and heart failure. Severe cases of scoliosis can cause the rib cage to put increased pressure on the lungs, making it more difficult to breathe.
The abnormal curvature of the spine leads to increased pressure on the discs, joints, and nerves exiting the spinal cord, which can result in inflammation and irritation of the discs, joints, and nerves. This inflammation and irritation can manifest as back pain and discomfort that may be mild at first and worsen if left untreated.
With many scoliosis patients, the musculature surrounding the spine can become very tight as the body attempts to stabilize the unstable spine. Chiropractic adjustments can remove pressure from the nerves supplying those muscles, allowing the muscles to relax and increase their range of motion and flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chiropractic adjustments fix scoliosis?
No healthcare treatment currently available can completely “fix” scoliosis. Even surgical intervention will still not resolve all body signals associated with scoliosis. Chiropractic adjustments can reduce pain symptoms, improve range of motion, and show corrective progression, especially in younger patients.
Can you straighten scoliosis without surgery?
When scoliotic curvatures are detected early enough, spinal straightening can occur (to a degree) with specific chiropractic adjustments and appropriately prescribed exercises to strengthen and lengthen affected musculature.
How can you tell that a person has scoliosis?
To accurately diagnose scoliosis, a person needs to consult a chiropractor, orthopedic specialist, or primary care physician trained in radiographical studies and Cobb Angle measurements. A common way to determine if this is necessary is to have someone bend forward with their spine exposed. One side of the back/ribcage will appear more pronounced or higher than the other.
What happens if scoliosis is left untreated in adults?
Untreated scoliosis in adults leads to increased spinal arthritis, vertebral body fractures, disc degeneration, and excessive nervous system interference. The resulting mechanical spinal positioning can create undue stress on the internal organs in the pulmonary, cardiac, and digestive systems.
What sports should be avoided with scoliosis?
Depending on the degree of the Cobb Angles in a patient’s case, certain activities may aggravate the spinal curvatures and surrounding musculature. Individuals with scoliosis are commonly instructed to avoid certain sports and activities such as weightlifting, dance, gymnastics, yoga, high-impact sports such as hockey or football, and one-side dominant sports such as tennis and golf. Excessive use of the spine and twisting of the body can be difficult for those with a healthy spine, but are much more likely to injure a person with scoliotic curvatures because of weakness in the vertebral segments and uneven muscle tone.
How should I sleep with scoliosis?
For those without a corrective brace, the best sleep position for an individual suffering from scoliosis is on their back. If this is impossible or uncomfortable, the next best position is on their side. It does not matter if the left or right is up, but choosing the side that gives the most comfort and restful sleep.
Can a chiropractor straighten your spine?
No. The only way to completely straighten a spine is the surgical insertion of rods. However, specific chiropractic adjustments in rhythm can aid in reducing curvatures and increasing range of motion, while decreasing symptoms associated with abnormal spinal curvature.
Book Your First Scoliosis Care Exam
Exam includes in-depth whole-body analysis with provider, posture pictures and insight nervous system scans (provided if necessary). Consultation & plan of action will help you understand your care options.