Scoliosis is a spinal deformity that causes a lateral (side-to-side) curvature of the spine. In severe cases, scoliosis may cause pain, limit particular body functions and cause breathing issues. Here are some early warning signs of scoliosis:
- Uneven shoulders/hips/waist/pelvis
- Head tilting/body learning more to one side
- One side of your shoulder blade sticks out more than the other side
- Pain in your neck, back, hip, knee or other joints
- Altered shape of the rib cage – a hump or bump on one side of the rib cage
- Breathing problems caused by restricted lung expansion (for severe thoracic/upper backbones scoliosis cases)
Scoliosis is a spinal deformity that causes a lateral (side-to-side) curvature of the spine. In severe cases, scoliosis may cause pain, limit particular body functions and cause breathing issues. Here are some early warning signs of scoliosis:
- Uneven shoulders/hips/waist/pelvis
- Head tilting/body learning more to one side
- One side of your shoulder blade sticks out more than the other side
- Pain in your neck, back, hip, knee or other joints
- Altered shape of the rib cage – a hump or bump on one side of the rib cage
- Breathing problems caused by restricted lung expansion (for severe thoracic/upper backbones scoliosis cases)
Learn To Manage Scoliosis & Improve Quality Of Life
If you notice signs of scoliosis in your child early on, it is recommended to seek medical advice and receive treatment as soon as possible. If left untreated, scoliosis may cause other problems with the spine and organs. The first step is to get a diagnosis and receive proper treatment.
For idiopathic scoliosis, non-surgical treatments aim to prevent curve progression or reduction of curve magnitude when skeletons turn into full maturity. Patients’ body response, treatment compliance and treatment adherence are the key to treatment outcomes.
For curves less than 25 degrees, there have been successful cases where patients were able to postpone or avoid the use of brace during their growth phase by practicing Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE) correctly and regularly under the guidance of certified professionals.
The combination of bracing and PSSE is highly recommended by scoliosis professionals to manage patients with curves greater than 25 degrees during their growth phase.
According to the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), scoliosis surgery is only recommended for patients with curves greater than 45 degrees (Cobb’s angle) during growth phase, or those with progressing greater than 45 degrees when growth ceased.
Learn To Manage Scoliosis & Improve Quality Of Life
If you notice signs of scoliosis in your child early on, it is recommended to seek medical advice and receive treatment as soon as possible. If left untreated, scoliosis may cause other problems with the spine and organs. The first step is to get a diagnosis and receive proper treatment.
For idiopathic scoliosis, non-surgical treatments aim to prevent curve progression or reduction of curve magnitude when skeletons turn into full maturity. Patients’ body response, treatment compliance and treatment adherence are the key to treatment outcomes.
For curves less than 25 degrees, there have been successful cases where patients were able to postpone or avoid the use of brace during their growth phase by practicing Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE) correctly and regularly under the guidance of certified professionals.
The combination of bracing and PSSE is highly recommended by scoliosis professionals to manage patients with curves greater than 25 degrees during their growth phase.
According to the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), scoliosis surgery is only recommended for patients with curves greater than 45 degrees (Cobb’s angle) during growth phase, or those with progressing greater than 45 degrees when growth ceased.
Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE)
As the spine curves, the surrounding muscles weaken and allow spine curvature to worsen. With proper exercise, you will be able to build stronger back and abdominal muscles to maintain your body in better posture. It is essential to work with a professional to avoid hurting yourself in the process.
PSSE may involve 3D self-correction, training in daily living activities, and stabilization of the corrected posture.
PSSE are not regarded as a substitution of surgery or bracing, but as a therapeutic intervention. Based on individual conditions, it can be applied alone or in combination with surgery or bracing. In addition, PPSE can help you to improve your aesthetics, related pain, secondary muscle imbalance, breathing function, etc.
As one of the popular PSSE, Schroth based-exercises are often recommended by specialists as a therapeutic intervention for scoliosis.
Other notable approaches of PSSE include the Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) from Italy and the Functional Individual Therapy of Scoliosis approach (FITS) from Poland.
Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE)
As the spine curves, the surrounding muscles weaken and allow spine curvature to worsen. With proper exercise, you will be able to build stronger back and abdominal muscles to maintain your body in better posture. It is essential to work with a professional to avoid hurting yourself in the process.
PSSE may involve 3D self-correction, training in daily living activities, and stabilization of the corrected posture.
PSSE are not regarded as a substitution of surgery or bracing, but as a therapeutic intervention. Based on individual conditions, it can be applied alone or in combination with surgery or bracing. In addition, PPSE can help you to improve your aesthetics, related pain, secondary muscle imbalance, breathing function, etc.
As one of the popular PSSE, Schroth based-exercises are often recommended by specialists as a therapeutic intervention for scoliosis.
Other notable approaches of PSSE include the Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) from Italy and the Functional Individual Therapy of Scoliosis approach (FITS) from Poland.
Bracing
The goal of bracing is to prevent the curve from worsening. From clinical experiences, patients with good compliance to bracing (with sufficient in-brace correction) and diligently implement PSSE have better potential to halt curve progression or reduce curve magnitude in idiopathic scoliosis.
There are various types of scoliosis brace in the market. Different types of brace may incorporate the use of different materials, technology, principle of correction and design. The “Free Pelvis Brace” system is an innovation that highlights the advancement in conservative treatment methods for scoliosis. Besides being less visible, the “Free Pelvis Brace” also allows better freedom for daily activities and has longer durability as compared to other hard braces.
Bracing
The goal of bracing is to prevent the curve from worsening. From clinical experiences, patients with good compliance to bracing (with sufficient in-brace correction) and diligently implement PSSE have better potential to halt curve progression or reduce curve magnitude in idiopathic scoliosis.
There are various types of scoliosis brace in the market. Different types of brace may incorporate the use of different materials, technology, principle of correction and design. The “Free Pelvis Brace” system is an innovation that highlights the advancement in conservative treatment methods for scoliosis. Besides being less visible, the “Free Pelvis Brace” also allows better freedom for daily activities and has longer durability as compared to other hard braces.
Summary
Surgery is recommended only in severe cases, hence non-invasive methods are often the choice of treatment for most people. There are various non-surgical treatment methods available today, such as manual therapy, bracing and Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE). Speak to a specialist and adopt a treatment plan that best suits your child’s condition.
Summary
Surgery is recommended only in severe cases, hence non-invasive methods are often the choice of treatment for most people. There are various non-surgical treatment methods available today, such as manual therapy, bracing and Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE). Speak to a specialist and adopt a treatment plan that best suits your child’s condition.
The Bottom Line
Scoliosis cannot be fully cured or corrected, but as a parent, you can make the choice to help your child better manage it by seeking treatment as early as you can and allow them to have better chances to prevent further progression.
The Bottom Line
Scoliosis cannot be fully cured or corrected, but as a parent, you can make the choice to help your child better manage it by seeking treatment as early as you can and allow them to have better chances to prevent further progression.