If your spine doctor has recommended scoliosis bracing as your treatment option, you probably have a lot of questions about it. So with that said, here are some quick facts about scoliosis.
Scoliosis Facts
First off, what is scoliosis? Scoliosis (sko-lee-O-sis) is a spinal disorder with a sideways curve of the spine. Usually curves occur in either an “S” or “C” shape. Even medical experts don’t know what causes this curvature. This is known as idiopathic (id-ee-o-PATH-ik) scoliosis.
Who needs to be treated for scoliosis? Only some people that have scoliosis with a higher curvature rate need to visit their doctor for treatment. Some patients only need a checkup. A lot of people think that only children and teenagers get scoliosis, but that’s not true. People of all ages can have scoliosis. Where children that are 10 years old or up to early teenage years are concerned, thee most common form of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis. Why does scoliosis affect children of these ages? Well, these years are when children grow quick. Girls are more prone than boys are to have this type of scoliosis. While what causes scoliosis is still unknown, there does appear to be a genetic component.
Idiopathic Scoliosis and a Scoliosis Brace
Scoliosis often runs in families. If there is any sort of idiopathic scoliosis in a family, each of the children should see their doctor. Scoliosis curves come in many different types. The main types are nonstructural, where the spine is normal and the curvature is temporary, and structural, where the curve is part of the spine. Structural scoliosis can be caused by disease, an injury, an infection, or a birth defect. Once you have been diagnosed with scoliosis, your spinal doctor will usually recommend one of three treatment methods. If the curvature is mild, and/or non-structural, he or she will likely recommend nothing more than the odd checkup. For moderate scoliosis, a doctor recommends a different level of treatment options including scoliosis bracing. For the most severe forms of scoliosis, often the only option left is surgery.
During scoliosis surgery, two vertebrae are fused together to permanently correct the curvature. A good thing to remember about scoliosis is that it isn’t as common as a lot of people may think, and cases that require surgery are rare. Most often, a treatment option such as soft scoliosis bracing is recommended.
The only sure way to find out if you or someone you love has scoliosis is to visit a chiropractor or other spinal specialist. Once you have been diagnosed, then and only then will your doctor discuss scoliosis treatment options.
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Pivonka Family Chiropractic
1355 S Higley Rd #102
Gilbert, AZ 85296
(480) 892-0022
Scoliosis Bracing for Adults
