Chiropractic & Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a sideways curving of the spine that often starts in adolescence when the bones of the spine are still growing. In many cases, the exact cause of scoliosis is unknown. Scoliosis can be detected by parents by uneven shoulder heights or a change in posture.
Often looking ‘S’ shaped, the very severe cases are often refered to as ‘hunch backs’. Early detection and improved treatment techniques mean that fewer people are severly affected to the point that it reaches the ‘hunch back’ proportions.
There are three basic scoliosis groupings:-
- Those caused by a disease process, often picked up by the medical practitioner as a result of other symptomatology or by the chiropractor during a standard chiropractic examination,
- Those caused by biomechanical factors such as pain, disc involvement or a short leg. This is the area that the chiropractor is the most effective and well known for.
- The third is idiopathic scoliosis. Medical authorities still do not know what the cause is.
Whilst we still do not know the cause of idiopathic scoliosis, accredited scientific research gives us a number of insights.
The chiropractic approach is to use specific spinal adjustments and we combine these with corrective exercises. Chiropractic techniques uses in scoliosis are highly refined and sage for a growing spine. Early detection and chiropractic management is important for optimum results.
With decades of our own experience, we have detected many cases of scoliosis that might have been missed and always work in collaboration with other specialists in this field. Anthony has even convened a seminar on chiropractic management of scoliosis, in addition to the many hours of further education he has spent studying.