Got Scoliosis?

If you've ever had a child get an annual school physical, chances are, you've seen him/her bend forward to touch the toes while the doctor examines for an asymmetric "hump" in the spine.  You may even find yourself holding your breath, praying that there are no signs of "Scoliosis".   

Afterall, Scoliosis is considered the most common spinal disorder in children and adolescents. Just what is scoliosis?  By definition, "a scoliosis is characterized by a side-to-side curvature of the spine >10°." The curvature is "usually combined with a rotation of the vertebrae and most often a reduced kyphosis in thoracic curves".  (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14713591)

I'm here to tell you that a curve in the spine is completely normal... though not ideal.  We are not designed symmetrically, so expecting a 100% perfectly aligned spine is not realistic.  Once the normal variance goes beyond 10 degrees, the term "scoliosis" is thrown out there... as if you have a disease.  This is a problem, yes, but we are all asymmetrical and scoliosis is simply an exaggeration of the norm.  Any amount of asymmetrical curvature of the spine can cause pain and dysfunction.  Problems tend to be more severe when a curve is measured > 10 degrees.  This is why the distinction is made. 

The good news is that the majority of curvatures are changeable.  In fact, only 15% of scoliosis cases are congenital, meaning there is an actual deformity of the bone structure.  The other 85% are considered either idiopathic (no obvious cause) or neuromuscular (result of neurological or muscular disease).   This means that the majority of cases are a result of muscle spasms, postural habits, unbalanced input from the stimulus around you (i.e. input from the ground, visual system, dental system), asymmetrical breathing patterns, etc. Bottom line:  The "curvature" is completely changeable!  The solution is very rarely surgery or braces for these cases.  With careful evaluation, the underlying cause can be identified and corrected. 

Take a look at two case examples.  Both of these women have dealt with the consequences of a "curved spine" for most of their lives.  One woman has such severe curvature that she is losing function of one of her lungs!  They were both told that, essentially, this is the hand they were dealt and the only plausible solution is management of the individual problems that result. 

This first women had a clear "hump" when bending forward.  After a few sessions of teaching her how to utilize muscles that she had been unable to access and relax the overactive muscles in the left side of her body, we moved to a standing position. A deep shift into her left hip socket and a reach of the left arm while breathing deeply and ...viola!  She was amazed at how something seeming so simple created a change in her spine. 

This sweet lady came to me with complaints of general fatigue, breathlessness, and joint pain. Looking at her before photo was difficult for her.  "I don't like what I see." Her x-ray and MRI reports showed asymmetry, but no actual change in bone shape or structure.  In one session, I improved her ability to sense the ground evenly and helped her open up the right ribcage. 1 hour later,  there were tears of joy and amazement.  "I'm so happy," was her response to seeing her picture this time.

If you or someone you know has been told that they have scoliosis, there is no need to panic!  Early intervention (before age 17) is best, but as you can see, improvements may be made at any age.  Even those sever cases that do require bracing, similar exercises can be used in conjunction to facilitate progress.