Scoliosis is a complex disease that involves much more than just the bones of the spine. It affects the muscles, other soft tissues (like tendons, discs and ligaments) and the brain. Your body forms habits over time to counteract the scoliosis. It takes time to re-program these old patterns of behavior, especially if the scoliosis has existed for many years....
Spotting scoliosis early gives patients the ability to be more proactive with their care. Scoliosis screening can be a great tool to catch and treat scoliosis before more drastic measures become necessary. Early detection can be the difference between an invasive spinal surgery and a short home exercise routine....
Surgery is often hailed as the be-all and end-all cure for scoliosis. And the Harrington rod is used in the majority of scoliosis surgeries performed in the U.S. It’s been used on idiopathic scoliosis patients since the 1960s, and, though the surgical techniques and equipment have evolved, the gist of the surgery remains the same....
As we’ve discussed before, there’s a lot of confusion and unrealistic promises that surround many scoliosis correction methods. Bracing and surgery are the two most common methods to treat scoliosis. But they’re not the only options available to you....
Most people see massages as a luxury, a practice synonymous with relaxation. However, massages also hold healing properties that are not the most pleasurable when put into practice. A good scoliosis massage should not be comfortable. It should reach deep into the muscles, carrying that good kind of hurt....
Most people may assume that your run-of-the-mill chiropractor is the best option for any sort of back problem, including even the most complicated conditions. But that logic can be faulty when it comes to scoliosis....
Since there is so much misinformation about scoliosis side effects floating around, we thought it would be helpful to go through some of the more common myths and why they are incorrect....
The Boston brace is a type of thoraco-lumbo-sacral-orthosis, or TLSO brace. In fact, it's the most common TLSO brace in the United States. It’s used primarily for the treatment of children, working to slow the progression of scoliosis in growing spines....
The traditional way to treat scoliosis involves periods of observation, bracing (though this is generally for adolescent patients whose spines are not fully developed) and then surgery if the curve progresses much past 40 degrees....
TLSO is an acronym for thoracolumbosacral orthosis, a brace for the mid to lower spine. Although a bit of a mouthful, we’re talking about the main type of brace used to correct a sideways, or lateral, scoliotic curve in the mid to lower spine....
Scoliosis and pregnancy can be scary undertakings on their own, much less combined. However, it’s important to note, the baby is not at risk simply because the mother has scoliosis....
Scoliosis is an intricate disease. Experts still don’t know what causes 80% of scoliosis cases, and there is no cure. But there’s still hope!...