Understanding Scoliosis: What is It?

For most of us, our first association with scoliosis was in gym class at school. You had to bend over at the waist and a school nurse would run their fingers up and down your spine to see if there was a curvature. Hopefully, if they felt something off, you were referred to a doctor. At Homberg Chiropractic, your Knoxville chiropractor, we see and work with patients with scoliosis every day.

Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. This abnormal sideways bending of the spine can be structural or functional in nature. That means it may be due to a specific deformity or it may be due to muscles being too tight on one side of the spine, causing an imbalance.

There are three main causes of scoliosis. First is trauma that causes an injury that the body must compensate for, causing a compensatory curve in the spine. The second cause is also due to compensation, but it is for postural stress that is placed repetitively on the spine. This can be an overuse syndrome or it can be due to an uneven pelvic bone or short leg syndrome. The third cause is congenital. Some children are born with scoliosis. If one parent suffers with scoliosis, there is a 25 percent greater chance the child will as well.

Scoliosis generally shows up in adolescents between the ages of 8-18 and occurs more commonly in females than males. When caught early, scoliosis can be corrected or at least managed to avoid long-term repercussions. Early detection and treatment is critical in proper management and recovery.

A series of spinal adjustments can restore proper alignment and structure to the spine, which can help muscles strengthen and help improve posture. If scoliosis is untreated, it can progress to the point where it interferes with lungs, heart and other vital organ symptoms, sometimes to the point where surgical intervention is required.

If you suspect your child has scoliosis or notice a low shoulder or poorly fitting clothing, an evaluation at Homberg Chiropractic can accurately diagnose the issue. A congenital anomaly such as a short leg, or hemi vertebra must be ruled out in the treatment of scoliosis. Typically, we don’t x-ray children, but in the case of scoliosis we always do. It is a good idea to have all children evaluated for scoliosis before the bones fuse and the syndrome becomes more permanent.