What exactly is scoliosis? WebMD describes it as a problem with the curve in your spine. This curve can look like a large C or S shape. It can cause problems with breathing and pain if it is severe. The cause of scoliosis is unknown in about 80% of cases. It is often discovered when children are in middle school and being tested for it. However, in some cases, he or she may be an adult when it is diagnosed.
Hopefully, a person will never get diagnosed with scoliosis. However, if one does, it is best to discover it as early as possible. A 7-year-old with an 8-degree curvature is better off than when the child is 13 and has a 15-degree curvature.
Why Is Early Detection So Important?
Early detection can help health care providers to slow down or stop the progression of the condition. It also can help with psychological consequences that may impact a child’s self-esteem.
Some of the long-term consequences of untreated scoliosis are heart problems, breathing issues, disc degeneration, spinal pain, osteoporosis, and pregnancy and reproductive problems.
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How Is Scoliosis Treated?
There are basically three options according to the medical community.
- Leave it alone until it progresses to the point of needing relief.
- Wear a brace over the entire trunk of the body for 23 hours out of the day.
- Surgery.
However, none of these options get to the root cause of scoliosis.
The Underlying Cause
One cause of scoliosis can be due to injury to the head or neck. This can affect the proprioceptive system that allows the body to perceive where it is in its surroundings. The upper cervical spine is one area of the body that has the most proprioceptors. This area is susceptible to damage and when an injury occurs the result is a number of different health problems.
Upper cervical chiropractors are specifically trained to detect misalignments in this area. Once this misalignment is corrected, proper neurology and physiology will be restored to the body. This allows healing to take place and, hopefully, will stop scoliosis from progressing.
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoliosis
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebral_column
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurology
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Dublin, California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Dr. Andrea Pritchett of Vital Life Wellness Center in Dublin, California is an Dublin Chiropractor and Upper Cervical Expert trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). Her upper cervical clinic also serves Pleasanton, Livermore, San Ramon and Danville. She is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including children’s conditions such as ear infections, colic and scoliosis and problems that adults face including migraines and other headaches, fibromyalgia, sciatica, neck and back pain, and more. More information can be found on our website at https://www.vlifewellness.com/