Adult Scoliosis Treatment

Scoliosis is a painful condition that results from the abnormal curvature of the spine. While the natural spine has gentle curves around the shoulder and the lower back, a person with scoliosis typically has abnormal curvature that may, in some cases, make the hips and shoulder appear uneven. Scoliosis is typically diagnosed in children, but it appears in adults too. Surveys suggest that the prevalence of adult scoliosis ranges from 35-45%. Scoliosis is confirmed after a doctor studies the shape of the spine, its curvature, location, direction, magnitude and causes. The extent of spinal curvature determines the severity of scoliosis. Though the majority of people have mild scoliosis with a curvature less than 20°, acute scoliosis may feature curves that have progressed beyond 40°.

In some adults, scoliosis is painless. However, in many cases, scoliosis can lead to pain, fatigue, muscle spasms, even reduced heart and lung function (rare). The main reason for adults seeking immediate relief from scoliosis is overriding pain and sheer fatigue. For many people, the degree of pain is so intense as to block out normal activities. Others have to give up all kinds of strenuous physical activities as scoliosis severely restricts their spectrum of movement. Thus, scoliosis has a direct impact on the overall health and energy of adults suffering from it.

Adult scoliosis treatment is not very straightforward. The main reason for this is the amount of uncertainty involved. Some adults do not need treatment at all, while others need careful monitoring over extended periods of time before the doctor can take a decision to start treatment.

Surgery is one of the treatment options for adults suffering from scoliosis. However, even after surgery, you cannot rule out the risk of failure of spinal fusion and disc degeneration. That is why it is preferable for adults suffering from scoliosis to undergo non-surgical care.

One of the best methods of treating adult scoliosis is through chiropractic care. Chiropractic care is a holistic health care procedure which emphasizes and accentuates the natural healing prowess of the body to bring about healing, thus making it unnecessary to depend on drugs or other intrusive procedures. Chiropractic practices can mend all sorts of joint pains and malfunction because it focuses on mending the relationship between structure and function. The main principle behind this form of healing is that there is an imbalance between the structure and function, which leads to distress and pain. Once this imbalance is set right through exercises and massage, healing occurs naturally.

Although chiropractic care is a relatively new method of healing, doctors who practice it depend on traditional methods to arrive at the depth and source of the problem. Hence, patients undergo thorough medical examination, including x-rays, if necessary. After this detailed examination, the doctor arrives at the source of the problem and therapy starts. Therapy may make use of heat, cold or electric waves, massage and acupuncture. Lifestyle changes, regular exercises, diet, nutrition and fitness form important parts of this holistic therapy. The emphasis, as you can see, is on permanent cure of the source of the problem, not a temporary easing of the symptoms, as is the case with modern medicine.