Scoliosis is defined as a curvature in your spine. This curving of the spine can lead to a significant list of problems to your health. Scoliosis is a serious and painful problem for many people and sometimes are not even aware of it. It is unfortunate how many people do not realize that they may have a curved spine, or that their pain could be a result of something more serious.
What is fortunate is that scoliosis diagnosis and treatment are far more common than they have ever been. It is one thing to figure out if you have scoliosis or curvature in your spine, and it is another to figure out what kind of help you need.
How are curved backbones treated? Let us take a look:
1. Back Brace
This is an uncommon way to treat scoliosis. According to Perth Chiro Centre, If the condition is extremely severe, with a significant curve in the backbone, a back brace may be needed. This brace helps stabilize the back muscles and the spinal column and corrects it over a period of time. Similar to how braces on teeth forcefully shift the teeth into their proper spot, so does a back brace on a spine.
The reason why the muscles of the back are an important part of the back brace treatment is that the muscles that support the back and spine are key to keeping your back aligned.
2. Exercise and Stretching
As mentioned in the first point, the muscles are just as important as the spine itself in cases of scoliosis or spine curvature. The muscles that support the back can become weak or degenerate if they are not properly exercised regularly. Muscles need to be worked to become stronger and protect the tissue around your spine.
Exercises that focus on the back are obviously great. Squats, deadlifts, and rows are all great to help build a strong back. If your scoliosis or curved spine gives you pain, you should do low weight so you do not put any unnecessary strain on yourself. Extensive stretching is also recommended. Stretching your back with activities like yoga can loosen up the muscles around your back.
Although you want strong muscles to support your spine, you do not want stiff muscles. That is why stretching should be included in your daily routine. Walking or light running are also good ways to improve the muscles of your back and legs, to help prevent any muscle degeneration.
3. Physician Treatments
Physician treatments, otherwise known as doctor visits, are also recommended for people suffering from scoliosis, especially for those who are already in an advanced stage. Not just any doctor though, the physicians you should be visiting are chiropractors. Seasoned chiropractors from Restoration Health Chiropractic, urges everyone to get professional help as soon as diagnosed, as most cases will only get worse over time. Getting specialized treatment to help move the spine around with joint treatment and muscle therapy can reduce any pain patients may be experiencing on a daily basis. With time, misaligned spines can be corrected as long as patients are committed to the treatments.
4. Surgery
Surgery can be an option if the curve in your spine is deemed serious by a doctor. Usually, the surgery may involve screws, pins, and rods to fuse new bone grafts to the spine to prevent any more curving. This is determined by how severe your spinal curve is, which usually means it is bad enough to require surgery. This is an unlikely treatment as it is an invasive surgery and would only be needed for select individuals.
While scoliosis, or a curved spine/backbone, can be a troublesome condition to deal with, there are plenty of options to help with treating this condition. These treatments can range from minimal effort or cost to more serious treatment for the individuals that have noticeably severe conditions of scoliosis.
Among these treatments, from least to the most complex include; exercising and stretching, chiropractic appointments, back braces, and bone graft surgery. Exercising and stretching is pretty self-explanatory as they can be done at home, and can incorporate a yoga routine into your daily schedule. Chiropractic therapy can help with moving or adjusting some of the joints and bones that we cannot adjust ourselves.
Lastly, the serious treatments includes a back brace which forcefully adjusts the spines curve by keeping it in place and preventing the spine from changing form. Surgery works similarly with a bone and metal graft supporting the spine from moving, this being the most serious of all of the treatments.
Nevertheless, scoliosis should never be treated lightly. Get diagnosed properly, and commit to the treatment. Early diagnosis and commitment to treatment are your greatest weapons when battling a curved back.
