In Episode 24, host Heather Rotunda and Dr. Justin discuss mild scoliosis, its symptoms, and treatment. Throughout the episode, you'll hear: What scoliosis is Why classification is important What are the symptoms and signs of scoliosis What you should do if you have scoliosis We hope you enjoy the...
As the spine is attached to the rib cage, and scoliosis involves the development of an unnatural sideways spinal curve with rotation, as a scoliotic curve progresses, it can disrupt the natural position of the rib cage; postural changes that affect the body’s overall symmetry are among the earliest signs of scoliosis. The best way to address a rib hump/arch is by...
While there are many different types of scoliosis, the most prevalent is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This type of scoliosis is known to be the most common type of scoliosis affecting children between ages 10-18. AIS is found in, as many as, 4 in 100 adolescents. The more growth an individual experiences before they reach skeletal maturity, the more...
Part of the diagnostic process involves comprehensive assessment needed to further classify a condition; this streamlines the treatment process and guides the design of effective treatment plans. In a scoliosis diagnosis, patient age, causation, severity, and curvature location are key classification points. When scoliosis is diagnosed, it’s further classified...
In order for the spine to perform optimally, it has to maintain its natural curvatures and alignment, and this is facilitated by the spine’s intervertebral discs. The intervertebral discs generally show the first signs of spinal degeneration, including disc desiccation. Keep reading to learn more about disc desiccation causes, symptoms, and treatment. The spinal...
Scoliosis and scoliosis pain will feel different from one patient to the next. Factors like patient age, causation, curvature location, and condition severity will shape a person’s experience of life with the condition. Particularly when it comes to pain, scoliosis feels very different for young patients who are still growing, versus adults. Scoliosis is a...
The spine’s natural curvatures make it stronger, more flexible, and better able to absorb/distribute mechanical stress; the spine’s optimal health and function depends on its ability to maintain its natural curvatures and alignment, and there are a number of spinal conditions that involve a loss of the spine’s healthy curves, such as a straightening of lumbar...
The body needs ample nourishment from a range of food sources to function optimally. As a spinal condition, it might not seem like scoliosis would have a clear effect on the digestive system, but as the brain and spine work in tandem to form the body’s central nervous system, its effects can be felt throughout the body, and not just in the back. The digestive...
Also referred to as lateral pelvic tilt, uneven hips caused by scoliosis can involve one hip sitting higher than the other, and/or one hip appearing more rounded than the other. As an abnormal spinal curvature develops and progresses, it is exposing the spine to uneven forces that can affect the body’s overall symmetry. While no two cases are the same, uneven...
Everyone needs sleep to reset, rejuvenate, and restore. For people facing the additional challenge of life with scoliosis, it’s particularly important to develop healthy sleep habits so the body can cultivate an environment that’s conducive to healing and responsive to treatment. While having scoliosis doesn’t guarantee sleep problems, it can increase the...
When scoliosis is diagnosed, it’s further classified based on a number of important patient and condition characteristics. While most scoliotic curves bend to the right, away from the heart, they can also bend to the left, towards the heart; this is classified as levoscoliosis and can have a number of causes. Levoscoliosis refers to abnormal spinal curvatures...
There are many different types of scoliosis, based on causation, and there are also different curvature patterns. Scoliosis can develop anywhere along the spine, although the thoracic spine is the most commonly affected. In most cases, scoliotic curves bend to the right, away from the heart, but in atypical cases with underlying causes, the curve can bend to the...