clicl here
pdf version

Scoliosis: There Is Hope
by: Dr. Darin Burdman, Doctor of Chiropractic


Scoliosis is the sideways curvature of the spine that can lead to back pain and stiffness. The scoliotic spine viewed from the front or back may appear as an “S” or “C”. Scoliosis is usually the result of heredity, injury or continual bad posture. It usually begins in childhood and if left untreated can become severe. Early awareness of the signs and symptoms of scoliosis can improve the quality of one’s life and well-being.

To understand scoliosis one must first understand mechanical pain. Mechanical pain occurs when the joints between two bones have been in a stretched or over stretched position for a long time. To help you better understand how mechanical pain comes about, try a simple experiment. First pull one finger backwards until you feel a strain. If you cause the finger to remain in the strained position, you will initially feel minor discomfort, but as time passes you will eventually develop pain. Try the experiment one more time but keep bending the finger past the point of strain until you feel immediate pain. You have over stretched the joint of your finger and your pain warning system is telling you that damage will occur if, you continue extending your finger in that particular direction.

If a mechanical engineer were to evaluate the spine he would conclude that the area of the spine located just above the pelvis is the area that is most often subject to mechanical stress. Statistics show that problems arise more often in the lower back than in any other part of the spine.

Pain produced by over-stretching is very common and arises particularly when we develop poor posture habits. Whenever we remain in a slumping or slouching position, whether sitting, standing or laying down over-stretching can occur. In addition to the problem of over-stretching some ligaments, other ligaments will shrink over time and become thickened. This can occur, for example, when a young student slouches over his or her desk in school all day. Maybe watching TV or playing video games. The ligaments in the front of the spine will actually shrink and get thickened and the ones in the back of the spine will stretch. This young person now is developing a curvature ie. A hump back. Chronically poor posture will accentuate scoliosis.

Scoliosis Early Detection and Rapid Intervention


As stated above, scoliosis Is the result of a heredity problem, adaptation to trauma such as the birth process or maybe for example falling off a bicycle, or poor postural habits. Scoliosis usually begins with a problem in the lower back. Spinal bones continue to grow until our early twenties. If a scoliotic spine is left unchecked it grows in wrong directions. The common treatment method is to wait and see how bad it gets. Next, the doctors may recommend a brace. If this does not correct the ever advancing problem they recommend surgery to straighten the spine.

Alternatively individuals with early scoliosis can utilize the services of chiropractors who are specially trained to incorporate principles of engineering and physics. These chiropractors can effectively treat mild spinal curvatures before they worsen. Specific exercises are tailor made for each patient. Then the chiropractor corrects the spinal misalignments that are causing the abnormal spinal curves. The progression of the scoliosis in many cases can be stopped or reversed. Positive results have been observed in advanced cases, but these results are much more difficult to achieve.

Without early intervention scoliosis progresses yearly; in women it also progresses with each pregnancy. Eventually internal organs (heart, lungs etc.) can be adversely affected and the only alternative is surgery. A chiropractor can easily perform a scoliosis screening. Good postural habits, proper spinal exercises, and early detection can greatly lessen the suffering caused by this terrible problem.