Making up your mind about scoliosis treatment for you or your child?
Scoliosis Treatment - Observation
If your child has a small curve, i.e.
between 10 and 24 degrees, they may need to be measured a few times per year.
KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images
This is called “observation.”
Because adult bones don’t grow, observation is generally necessary only when nerve symptoms accompany scoliosis.
If your child’s curve is between 25 and 45 degrees, bracing may be required.
Just the same, it may be necessary for avoiding pain and/or surgery later on.
Sometimes signs of curve progression are present as well.
Curve magnitude has no role in surgical decision-making for adults.
In adults, surgery is recommended for persistent pain, neurologic issues, and instability.
The goal of having scoliosis surgery is to prevent it from progressing any further.
What can you expect from the surgery?
Usually, it involves putting metal implants and rods into your spine.
These implements reduce or eliminate the curves, and keep the spine like that until fusion occurs.
Fusion is the knitting together of the spinal elements.
Sometimes, adults who had scoliosis surgery require revision surgery down the road.
Revision scoliosis surgery may involve another fusion and decompression surgery, which is done to relieve pressure on nerves.
However, scientific studies have not demonstrated this to be true.
No form of physical therapy has shown any efficacy in changing curve magnitude in adults with scoliosis.
Chiropractic as a Scoliosis Treatment?
A lot of people turn to chiropractic for scoliosis curve management.
Sadly, many believe this treatment can straighten out their spines.
As far as evidence-based medicine goes, there’s no proof that chiropractic care is an effective scoliosis treatment.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Scoliosis.
2013;8(Suppl 2):O10.
doi:10.1186/1748-7161-8-S2-O10
McAviney J.Chiropractic treatment of scoliosis; a systematic review of the scientific literature.Scoliosis.
2013;8(Suppl 1):O15.
