Most Effective Ways To Treat And Live With Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a skeletal disorder that affects an individual's spine. A spine with scoliosis has an abnormal horizontal curvature. This unusual shape of the spine develops commonly when an individual is experiencing a growth spurt that occurs just before they reach puberty.

Scoliosis can be a complication of other conditions like muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy. Most cases have no clear cause, but it seems scoliosis is related to hereditary factors. Other causes of scoliosis include spinal injuries, spinal infections, and birth defects interfering with spinal bone development. For unclear reasons, scoliosis requiring treatment is more prevalent in females than in males. Several complications can result from an individual's scoliosis. Heart and lung damage, chronic back pain, and changes in symmetrical body appearance can all be the result of scoliosis. Scoliosis is treated on a very individualized basis, as each case of scoliosis affects patients in different ways.

Braces

Individuals who are at a certain age and point in their development may need to wear braces as part of their treatment for scoliosis. Wearing braces does not result in a reversal of the abnormal spine curvature, and it also does not cure scoliosis. Braces can be used in treatment to inhibit any further progression of the patient's abnormal curvature. One type of brace commonly used in such individuals is specially made to conform to the body and is almost unnoticeable under clothes. The brace is made out of plastic and fits closely around the patient's hips, rib cage, and lower back. The amount of time a brace is worn for scoliosis can vary from person to person. The longer the duration and the higher the frequency the brace is worn, the more effective it is in treating the disorder. Braces for scoliosis do not typically cause a patient to have any restrictions in the participation of activities. The braces can also be taken off to make it easier for the individual to participate in sports or other activities. Braces are only effective while the patient's bones are still growing.

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Spinal Fusion

Severe cases of scoliosis that do not respond to other methods of treatment may require a surgical procedure. These cases usually involve a child who has a curve in the spine that is forty-five degrees or greater. During a spinal fusion procedure, the vertebrae that make up the curve in the spine are fused together. This idea is accomplished through the use of some type of bone substance or material called a bone graft. Small fragments of this bone are set inside of the spaces in the patient's vertebrae so it can fuse. Over time, the bones that make up the spine grow to become fused with these fragments and growth is stopped in the abnormally curved part of the individual's spine. This process is similar to what occurs when a broken bone heals back together. The procedure itself can take anywhere from four to eight hours, depending on how much of the spine needs to be fused and the characteristics of the patient's curve. In the long-term, the spinal fusion makes the affected segment of the back permanently stiff. However, the motion of the non-fused regions of the patient's spine allows for enough flexibility for them to perform all daily functions and participate in most sports.

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Rod Installation Surgery

Rod installation surgery is another option used to treat an individual affected by severe scoliosis. Rod installation is a relatively new procedure that can be done using a minimally invasive technique for patients who do not respond well to major open operations. Minimally invasive procedures allow for surrounding tissues and muscles to incur less damage as a result of the procedure. During rod installation surgery, the surgeon will make a series of multiple small incisions in the affected area of the patient's back. A tubular retractor or special catheter-like device is utilized as a channel for the use of small tools to reach the target area of the patient's spine. A carefully designed arrangement of screws and rods are attached to the bones of the spine to help move it into a straighter position. The surgeon may use imaging devices such as real-time x-ray and a specialized microscope during the procedure to help guide them. Most of these procedures are performed with general anesthesia, but some patients may be locally numbed instead. While most rod installation procedures are helpful in the treatment of scoliosis, severe cases may require another surgical procedure in the future if the curvature progresses again.

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Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is an option for scoliosis treatment that does not involve surgery and can be used for those who do get surgery during their recovery phase. Physical therapy aims to help an affected individual adapt to their spinal disorder and learn how to cope with it in day to day life. Additionally, physical therapy can be used to help improve the conditions of a patient's scoliosis. A physical therapist can formulate an individualized exercise regimen that can help the affected individual strengthen the muscles surrounding their spine and other muscles that have lost volume or become weakened from the abnormal shape of the spine. Muscles in the head, hips, shoulders, and feet may need strengthening to help the individual's body support the spine properly. Exercises that follow specific patterns of movement can help improve the range of motion a patient struggles with due to their scoliosis. Other less conventional treatment methods that can be used by a physical therapist to help with symptoms are heat stimulation, ultrasound therapy, ice stimulation, and electrical stimulation.

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Massage And Stretching

An individual who has scoliosis can explore different methods of massage and stretching to help ease some of their debilitating symptoms. Massage techniques such as cranial sacral therapy are effective at removing tension in the joints and muscles that become stressed in scoliosis. This mechanism improves the patient's overall mobility and can help lower their stress. Deep tissue massage therapy works by applying deep intense pressure to muscles that are particularly tight as a result of the curved spine. This technique is effective at relieving pain and giving the tissue a boost in blood circulation. The Swedish massage technique uses medium and light pressure that can help an individual with relief from insomnia, back pain, shallow breathing, and headaches. Stretching is also effective to help reduce an affected individual's pain. Pelvic tilts and the latissimus dorsi stretch are helpful to reduce pain in the muscles that move the hips and upper back. Stretches called side bends and the piriformis stretch can help improve flexibility and reduce pain. These stretches benefit the muscles responsible for rotating the lower back and hips as well as those that allow an individual to bend from side to side.