The orthopedic “Gold Standard” for the assessment of scoliosis is the Cobb angle, which is measured by determining the most-tilted spinal bones (vertebrae) in each curve. Lines are drawn along the top of the superior tilted vertebra and the bottom of the inferior tilted vertebra. Two more lines are drawn at an angle of 90 degrees to these lines, perpendicular...
Scoliosis is an incurable and progressive condition characterized by an abnormally curved spine. When it comes to understanding what’s happening with a patient’s spine, there are a variety of assessment systems in place. The Scoliometer test, Cobb angle, and Risser-Ferguson Method are the most widely used and accepted. Basic Anatomy of the Spine Before we...
There are different scoliosis brace options available, and it’s important to understand the difference between traditional bracing and corrective bracing. The former only addresses the condition as 2-dimensional, which is problematic, because scoliosis is a complex 3-dimensional spinal condition; corrective bracing addresses it as such so can help work towards...
There is more than one way to treat scoliosis, and different treatment approaches offer patients different types of results. The way in which a scoliotic spine is treated shapes its overall health, strength, and function in the future, which is why the type of treatment chosen can have far-reaching effects. As a progressive condition, the nature of scoliosis is to...
Although scoliosis is a spinal condition, its effects can be felt throughout the body. Not only does the spine facilitate healthy posture, the ability to stand upright, and engage in a wide range of flexible motions, it also works with the brain to form the central nervous system (CNS). If scoliosis is severe and/or is left untreated, it can progress to the point of...
When patients ask how to straighten their spines naturally, this can mean different things to different people. Ranging from DIY home-treatment to holistic methods, most questions involve whether nonoperative treatment is an option. When it comes to scoliosis, there are two main treatment approaches, each offering patients a different potential outcome; continue...
Regardless of patient age, as a progressive condition, being proactive with treatment is key. When it comes to how patient age factors into treatment, we’re talking about different progressive rates, whether or not pain management is needed, and how stable the spine is. With wide-ranging severity levels and multiple condition types, scoliosis can be a complex...
Functional scoliosis is considered a temporary condition with a temporary cause, such as poor posture, or a body irregularity. Patients with functional scoliosis can change their unnatural spinal curvature by changing the position of their body, which is why functional scoliosis isn’t complex to treat. Continue reading to learn about the differences between...
Scoliosis is a complex condition with different severity levels and types. The severity of the unnatural spinal curve, and its level of rotation, are significant condition factors that shape the design of effective treatment plans. When a scoliotic spine has a lot of rotation, this is rotoscoliosis and factors into the types of symptoms it causes, and the...
While scoliosis is a structural spinal condition, its effects can be felt throughout the body. One of the main scoliosis symptoms is postural deviation, caused by the condition’s uneven forces disrupting the body’s overall symmetry. Continue reading to find out how scoliosis can cause shoulder pain. Scoliosis involves the development of an unnatural sideways...
Scoliosis is a complex spinal condition with the potential to cause a number of effects felt throughout the body, particularly if left untreated. If left to progress, a scoliotic curve increases in size, and the uneven forces introduced to the body also increase, and this doesn’t just affect the spine, but also its surrounding muscles and nerves. Although...
The end goal of spinal fusion is stopping progression, not correction, and this is an important distinction to understand. While not everyone is guaranteed to experience any permanent restrictions following spinal fusion, the risk is there, particularly in terms of spinal flexibility, range of motion and pain, so should be considered carefully. Spinal fusion...