Scoliosis What is Scoliosis? Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine caused by genetic factors.

It occurs when the normal curve of the spine starts deviating to the right or the left side along with back pain. It is a gene related disease that affects young children and adolescents. It is diagnosed at puberty and is prevalent amongst girls. This is because the chemical substance for scoliosis is predominantly found in girls. Left untreated, the disease can advance to adulthood and cause a permanent bend of the spine. Newborns at risk of hereditary scoliosis are checked at birth with other members of the family. It is not caused by a spinal deficiency or reduced nutrient and protein intake. It is a lateral/side to side defect of the spine. The spinal cord of a scoliosis patient is curved towards one side. The change in the shape of the back shifts the hips or shoulders upwards or downwards with pain. This is known as Radicular Back pain. A scoliosis affected spine can resemble C or S shape curve. S shape curvatures develop near the thoracic and lumbar regions. C shape curvatures occur near the cervical region. The intensity depends on the degree of scoliosis. Degree of Scoliosis Degree of spinal curvature is known as degree of scoliosis. It can affect the body in many ways. Treatments are prescribed accordingly. Spines are never completely straight and may have small curves. These are not considered to be cases of scoliosis. A spinal curvature of less than 25 degrees without further deterioration is considered normal. Adams Forward Bend Test is used to measure scoliosis. Pediatricians conduct the test in schools on children from the fifth or sixth grade. Curvature or asymmetry is diagnosed by making the patient bend forward from the waist at an angle of 90 degrees. X-ray, Radiography, MRI, CT scan is used to confirm degree of scoliosis. Young people with scoliosis do not suffer from back pain. However, theyre more likely to suffer from back pain as they grow older. Types of Scoliosis Idiopathic scoliosis: Causes for Idiopathic scoliosis have not been determined. Theoretically, it is hereditary. Leg length imbalance and tumors may also cause it. Idiopathic scoliosis is divided into three stages- infantile(0 months- 3 years of age); Juvenile Scoliosis (3years-9years) and adolescent scoliosis (10 years to 18 years). Congenital scoliosis: patients develop deformities at time of birth. It is attributed to abnormal growth of the vertebrae.

Neuromuscular Scoliosis: occurs due to muscle weakness or neuromuscular diseases such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy and neurofibromatosis. It may be connected with spinal cord tumors and muscular dystrophy. Degenerative Scoliosis: calcium deficiency and old age cause this disorder. Causes Our spines have twists and curves that are aligned and maintained at a particular angle for balance and accord of the pelvic region. Scoliosis triggers an abrupt tilt, curve or change in the angular alignment of bones and ligaments of the spine. This can lead to chronic pain. Scoliosis is caused by two factors. Some patients are born with structural deviation of the spine. Others develop a deviation due to an accident or injury to the back. Both problems can be treated effectively. Alternate causes of scoliosis include genetics, deformities at time of birth, unequal length of limbs and neuromuscular problems. Scoliosis symptoms and signs Certain patients experience severe pain in the rib region. Intense pain may also cause shoulder swelling and herniation. The patient may develop an inclined posterior as well. In extreme cases, patient may be partially or completely paralyzed. Asymmetry in shoulder blades or abnormally bulging shoulders should be evaluated by a qualified orthopedic. Abnormally enlarged hip and waist along with back pain is also considered to be a sign of scoliosis. A childs head may not be in proportion location wise - to the rest of the body. This is due to retarded spinal development. The waist may also appear flattened on one side of the body with the ribs positioned higher on one side. The neckline could appear uneven as well in scoliosis patients.

Scoliosis diagnosis X-ray is used to test for scoliosis. Girls are tested between 10-14 years while boys are tested between 12-14 years of age. One in every 10 children suffers from a slight curvature in the spine.

Prevention Orthopedic braces are used to prevent scoliosis. However, they have limitations and must be used early to be of help.

Early detection of scoliosis is important for effective management. Children with any signs of an unnatural curvature of the spine should be sent to an orthopedic for evaluation immediately. He/she will check for signs of onset of scoliosis. Diet must be controlled for scoliosis prevention. Meals should be rich in calcium and phosphorous. Junk foods like French fries must be replaced with grams, green leafy vegetables, egg yolk, meat and milk to strengthen your bones. Treatment Scoliosis must be treated early to avoid further aggravation. Increasing spinal curvature can cause serious complications in heart and lung functioning. It can also cause unbearable pain. Treatment is prescribed according to age during onset of scoliosis, genetic instances of the disease, intensity of curve and severity. Scoliosis may be further complicated due to permanent nerve damage along the spinal column. Natural treatments are available for scoliosis pain treatment. Spinal twists can help adjust spine. For a scoliosis curved to the right, you must twist to the left and vice versa. This will realign the spine. Wearing back braces can help scoliosis. The braces can be worn all day long including nap time. Though uncomfortable, it can prevent spinal curvature from progressing. Left untreated, scoliosis can lead to deformities of the physical structure after a certain age. This includes lung issues, back pain and heart disease. Scoliosis pain is severe and often proportionate to the degree of spinal curvature. The curvature is measured by an instrument called Cobb angle. Minor curves do not need surgical intervention. If degree of scoliosis is below 50, general treatments will be used to cure the disease. This includes braces, exercise and physiotherapy. After choosing the brace type, the doctor will recommend the number of days for which it is to be worn. If the spine bends more than 50 degrees, scoliosis surgery will be recommended. The surgery will fuse the spine to prevent it from bending more in adulthood.

Exercises to cure Scoliosis Leg and arm extensions: lie with your hips over a stability ball. Keep one toe down and extend your left hand upwards while lifting your right leg simultaneously. Keep your right palm downwards. Hold for a count of three before switching sides. Take 30-60 seconds between each set. Back extension: position your stomach on top of the ball with knees to the floor. Fall forward onto ball for relaxation. From here, come up to a point where your back feels parallel to the ball. Keep hands and

arms raised while coming straight up to keep parallel with the ball. Hold position for a count of five. Repeat for a set of 10.