Chiropractic & Scoliosis

Learning that your child has scoliosis can be frightening despite the fact that it is a condition that affects between five and seven million people in the United States alone. Suddenly being faced with the prospects of corrective treatments and talks of bracing or even surgery can have any parent on edge, but surgery is not the only option for the treatment of scoliosis.For many patients, chiropractic care can be extremely effective at correcting scoliosis and alleviating the pain that can be associated with the condition. Any serious medical diagnosis is scary for a parent, but knowing your options and the benefits afforded by routes that do not involve going under the knife can help you to make the right decision for your child.

Identifying Scoliosis and Onset

Although scoliosis can onset at any age, it is most often diagnosed in the adolescent years between the ages of 10 and 15 according to the American Chiropractic Association. It’s also worth noting that scoliosis is seen much more often in females than in males, and genetics can play a role if the parents or siblings of the child have been diagnosed with scoliosis. The ACA suggests that if you know that a scoliosis diagnosis already exists either with yourself, your spouse, or one of your other children and your child is showing signs and symptoms of the disorder, you should have them evaluated by your chiropractor.

Some symptoms of scoliosis include an asymmetrical waist, uneven shoulders, having one hip higher than the other, having one shoulder blade that looks to be more prominent than the other, and in severe cases there can also be back pain and breathing issues.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

In many cases, your child’s doctor may suggest to simply monitor the scoliosis without treatment. Bracing is usually only considered when the curve in the spine is between 25 to 45 degree and surgery generally only becomes a suggested course of treatment if the curvature is 45 degrees or more or if the scoliosis is affecting breathing, heart function, or functioning of other organs. While this ‘wait and see’ method is something you can discuss with your doctor, your child may still be experiencing pain and discomfort that you want to address while still being able to correct the abnormal curvature—that’s where chiropractic care comes in.

Manipulation of the spine has been shown to help the pain that can come with scoliosis. In addition, the National Scoliosis Foundation explains that a combination of spinal adjustments, postural counseling, and doctor-directed exercises have shown favorable outcomes in the management of scoliosis.

What’s Right for Your Child?

At the end of the day, the right course of treatment for your child will have to be a decision you make. You will need to take into account the suggestions of your child’s physician, which very well may be to seek the treatment of a scoliosis chiropractor to help treat and manage the scoliosis. The vast majority of scoliosis patients are able to go on and live perfectly healthy lives. You are your child’s most important advocate; help make the right decision for their future.

The Bottom Line

At Ascent Chiropractic, we utilize a low-force, non-invasive, conservative approach to treating scoliosis for our patients in Brookfield, Wauwatosa, New Berlin & surrounding areas. To make an appointment at Ascent Chiropractic, call 262-345-4166 or schedule an appointment with our online scheduling app.