Contact us today!

Open Monday through Friday

Schedule an Appointment

Menu

Scoliosis

Information on Scoliosis, Both Congenital and Functional

Scoliosis is an unusual, most of the time, congenital (from birth), sometimes functional (shorter leg on one side, etc) curvature of the spine. An unusual curvature in the spine, congenital scoliosis typically develops during puberty. Scoliosis is most commonly diagnosed in children between the ages of 10 and 15 and the ratio of girls to boys is 5:1, in result occurring more often in girls. Adults over age 65 may develop a degenerative form of scoliosis that occurs as joints degenerate, which is somewhat distinct from congenital scoliosis. Functional scoliosis can be the result of having a shorter leg on one side due to trauma, surgery, and/or due to misalignment of the spine due to bad habits, for an example, young adults like to sit leaning towards one side on a chair or their bed. Certain work related activities can focus on one side more than the other and sports activities can emphasize more on one side of the body as well, such as tennis and golf.

man with scoliosis

A Thorough Explanation of Scoliosis By Our West Hartford Chiropractors

If you have scoliosis, your spine may curve to the left, right or in an S-shape rather than appearing straight. Scoliosis does not typically cause pain, but it can impact your ability to move and your levels of back. In severe cases, scoliosis can affect the ability to breathe and cause heart problems.

Just because scoliosis does not cause physical pain does not mean it should not be treated. Scoliosis can be damaging to self-esteem, particularly when it occurs during teen years. If the condition is allowed to advance, it can pose health hazards. By having the spine adjusted, you can actually reduce symptoms of scoliosis while avoiding an invasive procedure such as surgery for scoliosis. 

If you notice any signs of scoliosis in your child or in yourself, it is best to get checked by a chiropractic specialist right away. Many times children are checked by the school nurse for related pains but unfortunately school nurses do not have the professional tools to diagnose scoliosis thus leading to a delay or absent diagnosis for years. Treatment is more effective when it is promptly initiated.  

Diagnosis and Treatment of Scoliosis at West Hartford Chiropractic

Our chiropractors at West Harford Chiropractic look at scoliosis from a functional point of view rather than a simple symptom point of view. Therefore the prevention of scoliosis development is as important as the treatment of the symptoms themselves. Our chiropractors’ management of scoliosis is to treat the underlying condition by diagnosing the misalignment in the spine causing structural changes. Misalignment of the spine causes nerve interference that in return affect the function of the spine and thus cause the symptoms of the condition. A metaphor that our chiropractors like to use to treating the symptoms without treating the underlying cause is equivalent to driving a car without gas and breaking the gage while thinking that there is enough gas. If your spine is misshapen due to scoliosis, it makes sense to see a doctor of the spine - in other words, a chiropractor. Chiropractic is a non-invasive, gentle healing method that is appropriate for use on children. Our chiropractors tailor adjustment pressure to keep young bones safe. 

Scoliosis is often thought to have no cause, as reflected in its medical name, idiopathic scoliosis. We always start by examining your body mechanics and posture, diagnosing the degree of severity of your scoliosis on a scale of mild, medium, or severe.  Mild means your spine is bent less than 20 degrees from the vertical and moderate refers to bends between 25 and 35 degrees from the vertical. Moderate severe is 45 to 50 and our chiropractors will work hand in hand with child orthopedists to explore all options of care, both conservative and in severe cases unconservative. Cases of scoliosis with over 55 degrees of a curve are severe.

In some cases we may find joint and bone misalignments that could be contributing to your scoliosis. As our chiropractors fix these, we can reduce scoliosis symptoms. 

Our Chiropractors Focus on the Whole Function of the Spine Than Just the Symptoms of Scoliosis

Our chiropractors also find areas of subluxations in your spine. A subluxation is a misalignment of segment of the spine or extremities affecting the alignment of the spine (structural changes), thus affecting the function of the nervous system to and from that area causing dysfunction of that region and others. This interruption later on manifests as pain, inflammation, swelling, decreased range of motion, and overall decreased quality of life. In result, chiropractors can treat subluxations by focusing on the underlying causes of pain as oppose to the symptoms that are indicators of something going wrong in the nervous system.  We use gentle manual techniques using our hands, gentle adjusting chiropractic tools, traction and decompression tables and devices. By restoring the proper alignment, we can reduce the curvature of scoliosis and in some cases normalize it or at least prevent cases from worsening. 

Our West Hartford chiropractors welcome patients from the communities of Hartford, West Hartford, Avon, Canton, Simsbury, Farmington, Bloomfield, Glastonbury and Newington. If you want to relieve scoliosis naturally, why not give our chiropractors a call? Call us today at (860) 232-5556 or fill out the form on our website to get in touch! 

.

CONTACT US TODAY

We look forward to hearing from you

Location

Find us on the map

Office Hours

Monday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed