Scoliosis Treatment in Portland, OR
Scoliosis is an orthopedic condition where there is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. It commonly occurs before the pubertal growth spurt. The cause of the majority of scoliosis is unknown. It may be attributed to neurological abnormalities, hereditary diseases, and congenital disabilities. In congenital scoliosis, the defect of the spine is present at birth.
Scoliosis describes a condition in which your spine becomes rotated and curved sideways. While no cure for the condition exists, proper management helps prevent pain and dysfunction related to abnormal spine placement. Chiropractic care provides strategies you need to live a normal, pain-free life.
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Symptoms of scoliosis
Here are the signs that you may look for, which may help point towards the diagnosis of scoliosis:
- Uneven shoulders: one shoulder blade that’s higher than the other
- Uneven waist: When one shoulder blade that sticks out more than the other
- Rotated spine
- Uneven hips: hip higher than the other
- Back pain
- Breathing difficulty due to restricted area in the chest for lungs to expand
Types of scoliosis
- Congenital scoliosis: is a type which is present since birth
- Early-onset scoliosis: This occurs between birth and age 10, or before puberty. Also called juvenile idiopathic scoliosis
- Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: which occurs in adolescents; the reason is not identified
- Degenerative scoliosis: This occurs in older adults. Degenerative changes are seen in the spine and the surrounding structures like spondylosis, bone spurs, osteoporosis, disc degeneration, etc.
Neuromuscular scoliosis: This is usually seen from birth in people with neuromuscular conditions. Here the bones of the spine fail to form correctly or separate from each other during development. Nerve abnormalities affect the muscles of the spine in such cases.
Causes of scoliosis
The cause of 80% of cases of scoliosis is unknown or unidentified. Most cases of congenital scoliosis present from birth are related to neuromuscular disorders like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. They may also be a result of physical deformities, injuries to or infections of the spine and, birth defects.
Persons who have a family history of scoliosis are more likely to develop it. It is also observed that women are more affected by scoliosis than men.
Long-term problems due to Untreated scoliosis
In most cases, a mild to moderate type of scoliosis does not affect daily activities. Hence people are more likely to neglect this condition. The worsening of this condition may lead to permanent and severe deformities leading to physical disability. So it is vital to consult a specialist for scoliosis for early intervention. If the curve of the spine remains below 40 degrees till the person’s growth is complete, it likely will not worsen later in life. However, if this curve is greater than 40 degrees, it has a higher chance of getting worse by 1-2 degrees every year for the rest of your life. Unless this is prevented, one can be at risk for heart or lung problems eventually in the future.
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