Scoliosis is a condition that affects people of all ages, from children and adolescents discovered to have an abnormal spinal curve during a school screening to adults dealing with the pain and functional limitations that scoliosis produces as they get older. While chiropractic care cannot straighten a scoliotic curve, it plays an important role in managing the pain and dysfunction associated with scoliosis and in many cases can help slow the progression of the curve over time.
Dr. Jeff Brown has been providing chiropractic care for scoliosis patients in Greenville for over 40 years. His approach is honest, conservative, and focused on maximizing function and quality of life for each patient within the realistic limits of what chiropractic care can accomplish for this condition.
What Is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. Rather than running in a straight line when viewed from behind, a scoliotic spine curves to one side, sometimes in a single curve and sometimes in an S-shaped double curve. The severity of scoliosis is measured by the degree of the curve, with curves under 20 degrees typically monitored conservatively, curves between 20 and 40 degrees often managed with bracing or conservative care, and curves over 40 to 50 degrees sometimes requiring surgical consideration.
Types of Scoliosis
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
The most common form of scoliosis develops during the adolescent growth spurt and has no clearly identified cause, which is what the term idiopathic means. It is more common in girls than boys and is typically detected during routine screening. Early identification and monitoring are important because curves can progress rapidly during periods of rapid growth.
Degenerative Scoliosis
Degenerative scoliosis develops in adults as a result of asymmetric degeneration of the discs and joints of the spine. It is most common in the lumbar spine and typically develops gradually over many years. Pain, stiffness, and nerve-related symptoms are common complaints in adult degenerative scoliosis.
How Chiropractic Care Helps Scoliosis
Chiropractic care for scoliosis is focused on managing the consequences of the abnormal spinal curve rather than correcting the curve itself. The uneven loading that scoliosis places on the spine produces joint dysfunction, muscle imbalance, nerve irritation, and pain that all respond to chiropractic treatment. By maintaining as much normal spinal motion as possible and addressing the secondary effects of the curve, chiropractic care helps scoliosis patients stay more comfortable and functional.
Treatment at Brown Chiropractic Center for scoliosis patients may include gentle chiropractic adjustments adapted to the specific pattern of the curve, low-force Activator adjustments for patients where a gentler approach is more appropriate, cold laser therapy and therapeutic ultrasound to address inflammation and soft tissue tension associated with the curve, traction to provide gentle spinal decompression, and high voltage galvanism for pain management and muscle relaxation.
Scoliosis in Children and Adolescents
Parents who have been told their child has scoliosis often have questions about whether chiropractic care is appropriate and what it can accomplish. Dr. Brown treats adolescent scoliosis patients with an approach that is age appropriate, gentle, and realistic. Chiropractic care for adolescent scoliosis is focused on maintaining spinal mobility, managing any associated discomfort, and monitoring the curve in coordination with the patient's other healthcare providers.
What to Expect
Your first visit begins with a thorough consultation and examination including postural assessment, spinal range of motion evaluation, and x-rays when indicated to establish the degree and pattern of your curve. Dr. Brown will explain his findings clearly and give you an honest assessment of what chiropractic care can realistically accomplish for your specific degree of scoliosis before any treatment begins.
