Scoliosis

Types of Scoliosis

To understand the causes of spine scoliosis, you first must be aware of the different types of scoliosis that have been identified. When scoliosis is present at birth, it is referred to as congenital scoliosis. This results when the bones in a baby’s spine don’t fully form, which causes a sharp or intense angle in the curvature of the spine.

Spine Scoliosis can also develop due to a variety of other factors that are more subtle and impact someone over time. When this happens, the condition is called idiopathic scoliosis but is more commonly known as adolescent scoliosis. Idiopathic is a word used to describe conditions with an unknown source.

Children may be diagnosed with early-onset idiopathic scoliosis if they exhibit symptoms before they are 10 years old. Idiopathic scoliosis is typically diagnosed when children are between 10 and 18 years old. Some potential causes of idiopathic scoliosis include:

• • • Changes in the nervous system
    • An abnormal increase or decrease in hormone levels
    • Improper development of certain muscles in the body

Additionally, someone can experience scoliosis for the first time during adulthood. This is referred to as degenerative scoliosis. Degenerative scoliosis results from a gradual breakdown of the small facet joints located between vertebrae in the spine.

Degenerative scoliosis also impacts the gel discs (called intervertebral discs) in between each vertebra. These offer cushion and shock absorption within the spine. So, when these discs break down, the spine becomes uneven and takes on more curves over time.

The last type of scoliosis is neuromuscular scoliosis, which stems from dysfunction within the nervous system. Neuromuscular scoliosis develops when the brain and muscles are not communicating properly and, therefore, are unable to keep the spine properly aligned. The exact cause of this type of scoliosis is also unknown, but it’s thought to occur in people with existing nervous system concerns.

When someone is diagnosed with scoliosis, they experience changes in the spine. But scoliosis can also be observed in other parts of the body. Adults with symptoms of scoliosis may demonstrate some of the following:

• • • Uneven shoulders, hips, and/or waist, which may cause someone to lean to one side
    • Lower back pain that often extends to the legs
    • A continual loss of height greater than what typically occurs as someone ages
    • Difficulty standing up straight with the shoulders rolled back
    • Muscle spasms
    • Excessive fatigue
    • Bumps in the joints of the spine, called bone spurs
    • Trouble walking
    • Feeling full more quickly than usual after eating
    • Numbness or tingling in the legs, also known as a feeling of pins and needles
    • Shortness of breath that occurs due to insufficient space in the ribcage

In particular, children display some of the following symptoms:

• • • When standing with arms by their side, there is an uneven space between the arms and the torso
    • Bulging or uneven muscles in certain parts of the back
    • Ribs that noticeably stick out from the torso
    • Prominent skin folds on both sides of the waist that don’t line up

If you or your doctor suspect that you have spine scoliosis, you will undergo a comprehensive examination. This includes speaking with your doctor about topics such as your medical history and family history as well as undergoing imaging tests such as x rays to determine what the bones in the spine look like. Your doctor will also give you some health information regarding the mechanics of scoliosis.

They will also complete a physical examination where they may ask you to assume certain positions and determine whether or not your response is painful.

If you are demonstrating many of the symptoms of scoliosis and you meet all the criteria according to your doctor, you will likely get an official diagnosis of scoliosis. Depending on the progression of your condition, your doctor might recommend a range of treatment options.

Most doctors will recommend non-surgical scoliosis treatments such as physical therapy or chiropractic care to help stop the progression of scoliosis and even lessen the degree of abnormal curvature. This must be done in adolescents before the growth plates ossify, otherwise conservative care can only help manage the symptoms and will be unable to fix the problem.

Chiropractors use a range of therapeutic treatments such as manipulation, intersegmental traction, and flexion-distraction therapy, which all provide varying levels of realignment to the spine. Chiropractors may use the help of drop tables, kinesiotape, and functional movements to help restore the appropriate body position.

These scoliosis treatments are thoughtfully paired with function-based exercises to improve someone’s strength, increase their range of motion, and relieve pain. As a result, someone with mild scoliosis can live a more productive and happier life despite their condition.

If you have severe scoliosis and high pain levels, your doctor will likely recommend surgery. You may be suitable for a spinal fusion, which involves joining two or more of the bones in the spine together. This limits mobility to some extent but also serves to relieve pain and prevent further injury.

If there has been damage to the bones of the spine due to fractures or other trauma, someone may find relief from a bone graft that involves placing healthy bone near the fractures to assist with healing.

Bracing (via a rigid back brace) is another treatment usually recommended for children with idiopathic scoliosis who have not yet hit puberty. This is because, as hormone levels change in adolescence, an abnormal curve in the spine often worsens, causing more pain and immobility.