Scoliosis

A condition that causes the spine to curve sideways

Scoliosis refers to how the spine curves unnaturally. The deviation is usually more than 10 degrees, going sideways in a ‘C’ or ‘S’ shape. The most common occurrence is during adolescence (Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis), but this condition can be present at birth as well. Scoliosis affects around 2% to 3% of people in India, and 2% is estimated worldwide. Scoliosis has visible physical symptoms. 

What Are the Types of Scoliosis?

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

  • Usually appears during adolescence within the stage of intensive growth, and no cause for it is discernible. It is an inherited illness. It is known to be hereditary and tends to be inherited from one group of individuals to another.
  • Early detection of scoliosis is crucial for preventing progression; timely scoliosis treatment, such as bracing for scoliosis, can significantly help.
  • Patients benefit from scoliosis physical therapy and specific scoliosis exercises and stretches that promote spinal curvature correction and improve posture.

Congenital Scoliosis

  • A birth flaw of the lower extremities is caused by problems with spinal formation during the development of the fetus. It results from the improper formation of vertebrae while the fetus is still developing in the mother’s womb.
  • Its severity differs, and at some instances it is camouflaged while at other times, it is severe and progresses very quickly.
  • Regular scoliosis screening and monitoring are essential to determine the need for non-surgical scoliosis treatment or surgical interventions, only if indicated.

Neuromuscular Scoliosis

  • Linked with cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, this is a disease of the muscular tissues that control voluntary muscle movements.
  • This type is a result of irregularities in muscles and nerve tissues that support the spine.
  • A tailored plan, including scoliosis therapy and comprehensive rehabilitation programs, is vital to maintaining function and managing pain.

To detect and monitor it, one requires a personalized approach and applies it early, as soon as the disease is suspected. Combining non-surgical strategies (including physical therapy for scoliosis and chiropractic care for scoliosis) with proper spinal curvature correction ensures the best outcomes for long-term scoliosis management.

Symptoms of Scoliosis

Congenital scoliosis (being born with the condition) can go undiagnosed and progress during the child’s growth period. However, early intervention will help you get started with personalized scoliosis relief treatment. Some of the symptoms are:

  • When the child is growing, you will notice an awkward bending of the spine to one side.
  • The spine is bent (usually) to the right in the upper back and the left in the lower back.
  • The right shoulder is higher than the left shoulder.
  • The hips are not aligned.
  • Core muscle weakness.
  • Sitting and standing can be tiresome, painful, and cause stiffness.
  • Since the curved spine tends to press against the lungs and heart, physical activity can be limited and strenuous.
  • Inexplicable back pain in adolescents that cannot be relieved.

Sometimes, the symptoms may not be too aggravated, but screening is still required to catch the condition early. Get an immediate scoliosis relief therapy started under a doctor’s supervision if: Scoliosis is a progressive disorder, and children need to be screened regularly.

  • A twisted spine can cause pain and numbness in the lower limbs, which could make walking difficult.
  • Breathing problems are due to the increased pressure on the lungs and heart.
  • Pain, weakness, and numbness in the lower extremities.
  • Uneven alignment of your pelvis and hips.
  • Non-stop lower back pain in children and adolescents.
  • Difficulty in bending forward (This may indicate other pathological disorders).

Scoliosis affects what section of the spine?

Scoliosis affects the spinal column and specifically targets the vertebrae. Scoliosis is a medical condition that can occur in any section of your back. This is due to some differences based on age as follows:

  • Adolescents: This affects the adolescent most commonly in the lumbar region, and the thoracic region is the rib cage area.
  • Adults: The focused area is the lumbar or lower region of the spine. The common complaints concerning the lumbar region include pain and stiffness due to aging or degeneration.
  • Professional diagnosis required
  • Chronic, can last for years
  • Treatable with 8 weeks of QI Spine Therapy

Causes Behind Scoliosis

Scoliosis is mainly caused by genetic factors. If the child’s parents or siblings were affected by scoliosis, the child is susceptible as well. Scoliosis progresses more rapidly in girls than in boys.

  • 80% of scoliosis cases are Idiopathic, which means the reason is not determined conclusively.
  • Scoliosis is congenital and is already present at the time of birth.
  • Paralytic scoliosis occurs when the muscles around the spine don’t develop fully and the spine takes extra pressure as a result.
  • Neuro-muscular conditions like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or polio can cause myopathic scoliosis.
  • Adults develop scoliosis due to degeneration. It could come from conditions like osteoporosis or osteomalacia. They become susceptible to secondary scoliosis due to spine surgery as well.

Scoliosis Complications

Scoliosis is a medical condition that usually involves the lateral curvature of the spine and is associated with several complications that relate to the health of an individual as well as body functionality. These complications are numerous and will worsen with the advancement of the curve to some extent in the future. A comprehensive management plan for these complications often involves regular scoliosis treatment alongside personalized scoliosis therapy programs. The following are the complications that are associated:

  • Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Exercise of the various back muscles and joints makes them uneven, making it hard for an individual to get comfort and ease in flexing the back.

  • Physical Deformity

Abnormal curvature may therefore actually show on the body as a deformation of the spine, which interferes with the shape of the body.

  • Organ Damage

In severe deformity, even the thoracic cavity may be affected with lung and chest possible problem like difficulties in breathing caused by complications in the heart.

  • Nerve Damage

This is mainly due to the compression of nerves, which arise from the deformed spine, the occurrence of numbness or tingling, or even weakness in the limbs.

  • Arthritis

They include overloading of some of the spinal joint components beyond normal use and abuse of some forms that cause deformity and arthritis.

  • Spinal Fluid Leakage

The causes of such a process could be attributed to congenital defects in the vertebrae through which leakage of the cerebrospinal fluid is possible.

Many patients benefit from non-surgical scoliosis treatment options aimed at spinal curvature correction through bracing, targeted exercises, and posture correction. Diabetic patients striving for healthy kidneys must be closely monitored to detect any problem early as well as manage the conditions that can lead to further deterioration of organ functions, thus ensuring long-term mobility and quality of life is achieved.

  • Professional diagnosis required
  • Chronic, can last for years
  • Treatable with 4 weeks of QI Spine Therapy

Scoliosis Treatment

It is always recommended that children be screened every 4-6 months for early detection of scoliosis. Once diagnosed, the following steps are taken:

  • Specialized exercise regimen: wall bar exercises, swiss ball exercises, foam roller stretches, and yoga poses can help with the condition. Exercising will strengthen your core muscles and improve flexibility.
  • Taking pain-relieving medications or anti-inflammatories, as needed or as directed by your spine doctor.
  • Follow the personalized scoliosis relief treatment suggested by the doctor. It may include improving your posture, low-impact exercises, such as swimming, and daily stretching.
  • Surgery: This step is taken only when the scoliosis is progressing rapidly.
  • Thoracic brace: Doctors prescribe bracing for scoliosis to limit the progression of and maintain the curvature below 50 degrees. Bracing won't cure scoliosis or reverse it, but prevent the curve from getting worse.
  • Biofeedback for scoliosis correction: QI Spine has a personalized scoliosis treatment for functional scoliosis that corrects postural imbalance with their patented device. This also improves flexibility and strengthens the spine and the hip muscles.

Alternative Treatments

Research has also established that there are specific non-conventional treatments for scoliosis that do not correct the spine curve. For example:

  • Chiropractic manipulation: Despite its popularity, chiropractic care for scoliosis has not been proven to provide meaningful spinal curvature correction.
  • Soft braces: These lack the necessary rigidity for effective bracing for scoliosis, and therefore do not halt progression.
  • Electrical stimulation of muscles: This strategy does not have a positive influence on the spinal alteration in any way whatsoever.
  • Supplements: There is no scientific evidence that any supplementation can help in correcting or controlling the scoliosis curvature.

Comprehensive management strategies, such as scoliosis relief treatment and scoliosis relief therapy, offer more promising results. However, they are advised to seek other research-validated methods in dealing with the consequences of infections. These treatments fall under the umbrella of non-surgical scoliosis treatment and typically include a combination of structured scoliosis physical therapy, scoliosis exercises and stretches, and posture correction for scoliosis to gradually improve alignment.

  • Professional diagnosis required
  • Chronic, can last for years
  • Treatable with 4 weeks of QI Spine Therapy

It is always recommended that children are screened every 4-6 months for early detection of scoliosis. Once diagnosed, the following steps are taken:

  • Specialized exercise regime: wall bar exercises, swiss ball exercises, foam roller stretches, and yoga poses can help with the condition.
  • Surgery: This step is taken only when the scoliosis is progressing rapidly.
  • Thoracic brace: Doctors prescribe a brace to limit the progression of scoliosis and contain the curvature below 50 degrees.
  • Biofeedback for scoliosis correction: QI Spine has a specialized treatment for functional scoliosis that corrects postural imbalance with their patented device. This also improves flexibility and strengthens the spine and the hip muscles.
  • Professional diagnosis required
  • Chronic, can last for years
  • Treatable with 4 weeks of QI Spine Therapy

Diagnosis for Scoliosis

The assessment of scoliosis can be diagnosed based on clinical examination to determine the correct severity of the spinal curvature, which informs the treatment planning. The process includes the following steps:

Medical History and Physical Examination

  • The comprehensive assessment of a patient entails taking the patient’s history and any past history of Scoliosis of any family member.
  • An example of an assessment done on the musculoskeletal system is the evaluation of posture, bilaterality, range of motion, and neurovascular supplies.

Imaging Studies

  • X-rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computerised Tomography (CT) is used to get the Cobb angle and to identify any abnormalities in the vertebrae.
  • Radiography is a crucial tool in the diagnosis and staging of the condition, and this was evident in Catario’s case.

Early Detection and Assessment

  • Early detection of scoliosis is crucial to implement effective intervention, especially in the case of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
  • Routine scoliosis screening and monitoring help in planning timely scoliosis treatment.

According to the details, the prescribed treatment plan is a result of an assessment of the patients’ conditions. A personalized plan may include:

Conservative Interventions:

  • Scoliosis therapy options, such as scoliosis physical therapy, which focuses on exercises, stretches, and posture correction for scoliosis to promote spinal curvature correction.
  • For some patients, bracing for scoliosis is recommended, offering a non-surgical scoliosis treatment approach.

Symptom Management:

  • Structured scoliosis rehabilitation programs may incorporate scoliosis relief therapy to alleviate discomfort.
  • Periodic scoliosis relief treatment sessions can provide ongoing scoliosis pain relief, ensuring optimal functional outcomes.

This diagnostic and evaluation method, in addition to defining the state of spinal deformity, sets the foundation for an appropriate and most effective treatment approach for both nonoperative and in some cases, surgical interventions.

How QI Spine Diagnose Scoliosis?

QI Spine doctors have over 9000 hours of specialization in treating back and neck conditions. A detailed medical analysis is carried out, including pain history, how pain impacts your nerves, your range of motion, and testing of nerves and muscles. Over the digital sphere, QI Spine analyzes your scoliosis with DSA (Digital Spine Analysis). It figures out the exact root cause of the pain.

CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays often fail to pinpoint the exact source of pain, whereas DSA directly analyzes muscle tissue to identify the root cause. Here is how DSA is conducted & its benefits:

  • You’re asked to perform specific movements
  • Sensors and scanners map out how your spine reacts
  • The data is visualized digitally and interpreted by a doctor
  • Non-invasive and radiation-free
  • Quick and painless
  • Offers real-time insights
  • Enhances accuracy in diagnosis and treatment planning

After the thorough analysis of your scoliosis doctor will design a personalized scoliosis relief therapy for you. The therapy follows the whole patient's journey, and our spine doctors will guide you from the first day of consultation to the post-care. Also, the doctor and you both can track the treatment details over QI Spine’s app. The app also allows you to map your exercise routine, schedule your video consultation or in-clinic appointment, and track your recovery progress.

  • Professional diagnosis required
  • Chronic, can last for years
  • Treatable with 4 weeks of QI Spine Therapy

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Who is a QI Spine Specialist?

A QI Spine Specialist is a medical expert with

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