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SCOLIOSIS
- Safe Gaurding Your Childs Spine
Scoliosis
is a condition of the spine where instead of growing straight when
viewed from behind, it grows with a degree of twisting or curving.
Scoliosis can be so mild that the patient never even knows its there,
to severe enough to require corrective surgery.
The cause of many spinal scoliosis curves remains unknown, but there
some factors that we know for sure. If one or both parents have
a curve, it greatly increases the risk for the child. Girls get
scoliosis much more than boys. A short leg on one side or a large
twist of the pelvic girdle can contribute to scoliosis. Very few
curves need surgery. Very few curves continue to get worse through
life. There is no one cause, rather it is a combination of genetics,
and then environmental factors such as bumps, falls, and daily habits
that contribute etc.
There is no evidence that a person with scoliosis will have more
spinal pain than a person who does not. Many cases of back pain
are explained away by saying that the patient has scoliosis, but
in most cases the patient has scoliosis AND another functional problem
that is causing the pain. Usually the secondary problem can be treated
and managed. So if you have scoliosis and pain you are probably
not a lost cause!
How to check for scoliosis at home:
First, have the person stand with their back to you, feet shoulder
width apart, relaxed and still, preferably with their shirt off.
Have them shake themselves a little to loosen their muscles, and
then return to still posture while looking straight ahead. Observe
the following:
Are
their shoulders even?
Does
the head tilt one way?
Do their
shoes wear evenly on the heels?
Are
the bottom tips of the shoulder blades even?
Do their
ribs bulge up on one side when they bend forward?
Do their
arms hang an equal distance from the body when standing?
Is each
of the legs the same length when they lay down?
If any of the above show up in your child's spine, then there may
be a scoliosis present. Your chiropractor looks at spines all day
long, so if you are doubt, just take them along to your nearest member
of the Chiropractors Association of Australia, and they will assess
things further and advise you what to do.
What is the treatment like?
Scoliosis is not so much a problem that we fix; rather it is one that
we need to manage. Once you have it, you have it. Regular exercise
for the back muscles will keep strong spinal support, and if combined
with regular chiropractic care and adjustments to keep the joints
mobile we provide the best long term outcome. Where the curves of
the spine change form one direction to another are often the points
that will tend to fixate, and then degenerate later in life. It is
vital to keep these transitional spinal joints mobile and functioning
normally.
If you have any further queries, please contact your local chiropractor,
and be sure that they are a member of the Chiropractors Association
of Australia
Article
courtesy of Lee De Coster, Chiropractor in Leederville WA. For more
info visit www.leedervillechiropractic.com.au
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