What is Scoliosis in Children?
Scoliosis is characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine. The condition is usually diagnosed in children after a growth spurt around the time they begin puberty.
The severity of scoliosis can vary from child to child. In extreme cases, scoliosis can be debilitating and cause heart and lung problems due to the disfigurement of the rib cage. Extreme cases are rare, but even those with mild cases of scoliosis will suffer from pain and health issues throughout their lives if the condition is left untreated.
Signs and Symptoms of Scoliosis in Children
During routine physicals, doctors will usually look at your child's back to see if there is any indication of curvature of the spine. Even parents may notice this curvature without a doctor's help.
A person with scoliosis may have a noticeable sideways curve in the spine, often in the upper portion. The person may have uneven shoulders or hips and may appear to be leaning to one side. The ribs may appear to protrude more on one side than the other when the person tries standing up straight.
Someone with scoliosis may have back pain of varying degrees of severity. Those with severe curves may also experience breathing issues.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Scoliosis in Children
There have been many theories about the cause of scoliosis, but modern research indicates that curves in the spine might be due to minor injuries of the upper cervical spine in childhood. The upper cervical spine is a vulnerable area that is prone to injuries from head traumas and jolts in the neck or shoulders. Children can sustain these kinds of injuries at any time in their lives from falls, roughhousing, contact sports or accidents.
The atlantoaxial joint consists of the top two vertebrae. These vertebrae begin at the base of the skull, help support the weight of the head, and allow the head to move and pivot. New research suggests that a minor misalignment in the atlantoaxial joint may cause the skull to tilt slightly—so slightly that it goes unnoticed. The body tries to compensate by shifting the weight. As the child grows, this shift causes the spine to grow off-center and become curved.
How Our Scoliosis Treatment Works for Children
When it comes to scoliosis, the best offense is a good defense. Getting treatment as early as possible can help nip the problem in the bud. Expert spinal corrections at an early age can prevent any curvature from worsening as the child's body continues to grow. Early intervention can save your child from a lifetime of discomfort, pain, future health problems, mobility issues, and future corrective surgeries.
Dr. Gordon Elder of the Blair Chiropractic Clinic is a specialist in the Blair Chiropractic Technique. The Blair technique offers a safe, non-invasive, drug-free treatment for scoliosis that is gentle enough for children. With the Blair technique, there are no jarring jolts and twists as in traditional chiropractic methods.
Using the Blair technique, Dr. Elder begins treatment with a thorough screening using 3D diagnostic imaging tools. This technology allows the doctor to make precise calculations and measurements so that corrections can be more precise and require a lighter touch. The doctor uses gentle pressure to coax the spine into alignment, and in follow-up visits, he will monitor the progress of your child's spine and health as your child continues to grow and develop.
Regular chiropractic visits can help keep scoliosis under control; in some cases, chiropractic care can help prevent or cure scoliosis all together. Contact Dr. Elder for more information. The doctor treats patients in Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.