What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature in the spine that may result from a growth spurt during puberty. Scoliosis is most common in children and young teens. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some children develop spine deformities that continue to get more severe as they grow. Severe scoliosis can be disabling.
Signs and symptoms of scoliosis may include:
- Uneven hips or shoulders
- More prominent rib cage or shoulder blade on one side
- Curved or forward posture
- Leaning to one side
- Back pain
- Inability to perform daily activities
Scoliosis and chiropractic care
A chiropractor will be able to diagnose you or your child with scoliosis through initial consultation and x-rays. Your chiropractor may also perform a neurological exam to check for muscle weakness, numbness, and abnormal reflexes. During the initial consultation, our chiropractors will take a detailed medical history and ask questions about recent growth. During the exam, your chiropractor may have your child stand and then bend forward from the waist, with arms hanging loosely, to see if one side of the rib cage is more prominent than the other.
Plain X-rays can be ordered to confirm the diagnosis of scoliosis and reveal the severity of the spinal curvature. Depending on the degree or severity of the spinal curvature, chiropractic care can help. Although, if the curvature is severe enough, braces or surgery may be necessary.
Our chiropractic approach at Custom Chiropractor is to use specific spinal adjustments along with a program of corrective exercises to help slow, stop, or reverse the progression of scoliosis. If necessary, our chiropractors can also refer to other healthcare professionals in the case of severe scoliosis
How to make an appointment
To schedule an appointment, please call us at 408-248-8700 or visit our website at santaclaracustomchiro.com.
After scheduling your appointment, intake forms will be conveniently emailed to you to complete prior to your initial evaluation. These forms will include questions about your health history so our chiropractors can get a clear picture on how to get you back to your pain-free life again.