The spinal cord plays a major role in our body. We should be aware of spine disorders, as they occur more in children or adolescents than adults. If you notice something affecting your posture or your kid’s height, it may be Scoliosis. It looks like a sideways curvature of the spine, which is usually identified in adolescents. In this blog, let us go through everything you should know about this spinal curve, from diagnosis and symptoms to treatment and prevention.
What is Scoliosis?
It is an abnormal condition of the backbone. Generally, you will have a straight or slightly curved spine. However, people with this condition will have a spine that curves sideways, like a letter C or S. This is usually seen in children and adolescents. You can see the curve on either side of the spine and in any place on the spine. The reason for this condition is mostly unknown.
About 2 to 3% of the Indian population is affected by this. Although it affects both genders, the female requires more treatment than the male. In 80% of cases, what causes Scoliosis is not known.
Types of Scoliosis
It is of three types. Let us discuss each type in detail.
Idiopathic Scoliosis: It is a side-to-side curve in the spine. The causes are not known in this case. Generally, this type will not cause any pain unless it is severe. If it is mild, no treatment is required, but regular observation is needed. Braces or surgery can reduce the curve and stop it from getting worse.
Congenital Scoliosis: This is caused due to abnormalities in vertebrae bone growth. It is found at birth. The formation of the spinal bone is not proper at the time of fetal development. Surgery can help the child avoid risky complications.
Neuromuscular Scoliosis: This condition can be caused by preexisting medical conditions such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and muscular atrophy. Surgery can help in strengthening the spine.
It can affect any part of your spine, depending on your age.
Adolescents: Mostly, it occurs in the rib cage area. It is also known as Thoracic Scoliosis.
Adults: It occurs in the lower or lumbar spine. At one age, the lower spine becomes more suspectable, which may increase the pain. It is also known as Lumbar Scoliosis.
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Scoliosis Symptoms to Observe
People with this condition lean a bit when they stand. The other symptoms include,
- Visible curve
- Waist shifts to one side
- Uneven shoulders
- Ribs stick to one side than the other
- Uneven legs
- Hip higher than the other
Apart from the appearance, you will also suffer from the following conditions.
- Back stiffness
- Low back pain
- Fatigue
- Pain in leg
- Numbness in leg
- Hardness in breathing
Scoliosis Causes You Should Know About
It is categorised as structural or non-structural. The spine works fine in non-structural cases, and the curve may be due to inflammation or muscle spasms. When treating them, the curve goes away. However, in structural cases, the curve cannot be cured. The causes include,
- Infections
- Tumours
- Congenital disabilities
- Genetic conditions
- Muscular dystrophy
- Cerebral palsy
Scoliosis Diagnosis for Early Detection and Treatment
Teenagers with this condition generally don’t feel pain. Undetected in teens, it will continue, and after 40, you may feel pain due to the breakdown of the disk. If the spine is curved more than usual, it will get worse over time. If you have been affected by this in the past, then you will need a regular checkup.
It can be diagnosed through physical exams, X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs.
Physical Exam: Doctors ask you to stand straight and bend 90 degrees so that they can see the spinal curve. It is called the Adam’s forward bend test.
X-ray: You should have an X-ray of your back and side to confirm the condition. If the curve is slight, then it requires no treatment; otherwise, you must undergo further tests.
Imaging: Once X-rays confirm the Problem, doctors may ask you to take a CT scan or MRI to find the cause. With a CT scan, you can see your bone structure in detail, whereas an MRI can see the soft tissues to check for disk breaking.
Degrees: It is measured in degrees. If the degree ranges below 10, then there is no spinal disorder. 10 to 24 is mild Scoliosis, 25 to 39 is moderate, and more than 40 is severe.
Scoliosis Treatment
Treatment is not necessary for mild Scoliosis. Regular exercise prevents it from getting worse. However, if it worsens during regular examination, it can be treated using the following methods.
Scoliosis Brace: If children have this disorder, it can be treated by wearing braces. These braces are usually made of plastic and cover the front and back. Studies prove that wearing braces as instructed by doctors keeps the condition at the same level for 80% of cases.
Scoliosis Surgery: For people with more than 40 degrees, doctors treat them by surgery. It can be done in three ways.
- Spinal fusion: The surgeons insert pieces of bone or similar materials into the spine. Hardware holds the bones until they fuse or grow together. It remains permanently in the spine and lessens the curve.
- Expandable rod – This surgery is for children with severe Scoliosis. Surgeons insert a rod along the spine. As the child grows, they adjust the rod, and after the child is fully grown, they remove the rod and perform the spinal fusion.
- Vertebral body tethering – This is a surgery done in children. Surgeons will put screws and thread on the outside edge of the spinal curve. These screws will help the spine to grow straight. But the screws and thread remain permanently in the body.
Scoliosis Complications to Take Care of
If you leave this disorder untreated, it may lead to the following conditions.
- Increases lower back pain
- It lowers your self-confidence as it starts to appear visible to everyone.
- This leads to breathing problems as the ribs touch the lungs in severe cases.
- Causes persistent pain due to wear and tear of the spine.
- Leads to leakage of fluid from the spine.
Scoliosis Prevention Measures
At present, there is no preventive measure for this condition, but early screening may reduce the impact of this disorder. Typically, it can be identified in kindergarten or middle school. With early diagnosis, you could reduce the risk by incorporating exercise-based therapies. You can reduce the progression to this condition by focusing on flexibility and range of motion.
Scoliosis Exercises For Pain Management
You can go for physical therapy based on your doctor’s advice. A qualified physical therapist will give you exercises that reduce your back pain and strengthen your spine and core muscles. Here are some of them,
Pelvic Tilt: You should lie on the floor with your back. Keep your knees bent, and your foot should be flat on the floor. Push your back on the floor by tightening the muscles in the stomach and holding it for 5 seconds while breathing normally. It can be done in two sets of 10 repetitions.
Cat-Cow Stretch: Get on your knees and hands. Pull in your stomach and keep your head straight. Breathe in and round your back. Then breathe out and tilt your pelvis. This will make your tailbone stick up and look up. Come back to your normal position. Repeat this in two sets of 10.
Bird Dog: Get on your hands and knees. Raise your shoulder above your head and hips over your knees. Lift your right hand out and level it with your body. With your arm raised, pull your left leg away from your hip and hold for 15 seconds. Slowly return to the normal position and do it with the other arm and leg. Repeat this five times.
Plank: You should lie on the floor with your stomach, keep your forearms on the floor and elbows below your shoulders, then slowly lift your hips above the floor by tightening your belly muscles. Lift your knees from the floor and keep your body straight for 30 seconds. If it is hard for you, try lifting your hips and keeping the knees on the floor. Repeat this five times.
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Conclusion
Scoliosis is a spinal bone disorder. It looks like a curve in your spine. Even though the cause of this disorder cannot be known, you can reduce the risk by wearing braces, doing regular exercises and getting surgery in case of a severe condition. Visit a doctor for early treatment to take care of yourself or your child with Scoliosis.
