Of all the back conditions, scoliosis is one of the most common that can cause many mobility issues and discomfort. There are an estimated five to seven million people in the United States alone that suffer from this condition. Our Atlanta chiropractors are prepared to provide care and relief to scoliosis patients in order to make their daily life easier to deal with.
Scoliosis Defined
A lateral or horizontal curvature of the spine that is greater than ten degrees is what defines scoliosis. Often the cause of the curvature is left unknown, but about twenty percent of cases are a result of trauma, tumors, or neurological diseases. If it is from an unknown cause it is referred to as idiopathic in nature.
Functional scoliosis means that the curvature is a result of a posture problem, muscle spasms, or differing length of legs. Typically, this type of scoliosis is easily remedied. If this is a structural problem, however, postural treatment strategies are mostly ineffective. Females are more commonly burdened by scoliosis and typical development of the condition occurs between ages ten and fifteen. There is also a genetic component and if this is the case, it can present in younger ages.
Pain and Limited Mobility
Most commonly scoliosis is accompanied with intense pain, decreased range of motion, and reduced lung and heart function. Decreased self-esteem can also be found psychologically in patients with scoliosis. Most patients, around 80 percent, have a curvature of fewer than 20 degrees, but because this condition is typically found in adolescent, a large increase in curvature can occur in a short period of time.
Diagnosing Scoliosis and Appropriate Treatment
X-rays and physical evaluation are typically used to diagnose this condition. Our chiropractors use spinal manipulation, electric muscle stimulation, and therapeutic exercise to most efficiently and effectively treat our patients who suffer from scoliosis. Although not much research has been done in support of this finding, many patients who have this condition report improvement with chiropractic care.
With care from our chiropractors, any pain or issues that cause scoliosis discomfort will be addressed, even if the curvature itself is not completely remedied. The change in posture and gait that may occur from a spinal curve from scoliosis can cause other areas of the body to overcompensate, which can cause pain and other chronic issues.
Call us at (404) 889-8828 to allow our chiropractors to search for underlying causes of the structural issues within your spine and address the discomfort and pain that you are experiencing.