Whenever I teach a course in back and neck care, someone inevitably stands up and states, “You can’t help me, I have scoliosis — my spine is curved.”
Actually, everyone’s spine is curved, like an “S,” with two curves in (at the neck and in the lumbar area) and one curve out (at the back). Each “in” curve is called a lordosis; the “out” curve, a kyphosis. Scoliosis refers to a lateral curve, meaning the spine is curving to the left or right.
There are two types of scoliosis, structural and non-structural. Structural means the cause of the curve is within the spine itself. Non-structural indicates a cause outside the spine. A non-structural example: having one leg shorter than the other would cause your pelvis to tilt one way and your spine to curve the other. Equalize the length of the two legs and the spine will no longer be “scoliotic.”
Structural scoliosis is more serious because it is characterized by an actual change and/or abnormality of the spine. The causes are many. It can be a congenital defect, or a result of a neuromuscular disease like cerebral palsy. Most causes of structural scoliosis are idiopathic or unknown. Of those with idiopathic scoliosis, 60 to 80 percent are girls. It’s important for parents to take note of their child’s posture. If one shoulder seems a lot higher than the other, if their clothes just don’t hang right, if the child complains of low back pain after prolonged sitting or standing, it’s a good idea to see a doctor.
This is not meant to alarm you, for the most part, a minor scoliosis causes little to no pain and will hardly be noticed. No one is perfectly aligned, and the human body adapts well to its own particular “offness.”
If the scoliosis is severe, there are corrective measures that may be taken. Your physical therapist can develop a special exercise program. Wearing a corrective brace could help prevent the spine from a drastic deformity later. And a last resort there is corrective surgery.
On the brighter side, only a small percentage of children and adults need any kind of treatment at all. Having a slight scoliosis means very little and should not limit or inhibit you.
For more information, contact Marc Levine, PT, at 661-298-0140 or visit Sierra Canyon Physical Therapy at 27225 Camp Plenty Road, Suite 6 in Canyon Country.