Health Articles

Chiropractic management can reduce scoliosis 

The spine normally contains curvatures in the neck, the mid back, and in the low back when viewed from the side (click here for an image).  These normal curvatures are important for the structure and function of the spine.  When the spine is viewed from the front, it should be straight and plumb (click here for an image).  Scoliosis is a neuro-musculoskeletal condition in which the spinal column is curved abnormally from side to side. These additional abnormal curves cause stress on the spine and on the spinal cord contained within it, as outlined in the abstracts of the articles found here,here, and here (copies of these articles are available at Path of Life), and can have negative impacts on the nervous system, and therefore on your health.  

The classic "medical" approach to management of a scoliosis is to observe but not treat the patient if the scoliosis is below a certain limit, to instruct a patient to wear a spinal brace if the scoliosis meets certain qualifications, or to perform surgery to insert rods to straighten the spine if a scoliosis is deemed to be severe enough to be a threat to health and life quality.  One philosophical question, however, is as to whether it is better to take a hands-off "wait and see" approach about a scoliosis not deemed "bad enough" for classical medical intervention, or to undertake a conservative management strategy to reduce the scoliosis if possible, or to reduce or prevent its progression?  According to the studies referenced above, abnormal spinal position indeed impacts the nervous system, and therefore impacts the body's ability to govern and heal itself.  It follows, then, that a management approach to naturally reduce or eliminate scoliosis would be better for a patient's overall health than an approach of observation with no intervention.   

Several case studies have shown that spinal adjustment in conjunction with specific exercises such as traction, weights, and neuromuscular re-education can reduce abnormal spinal curvatures significantly.  In particular, Dr. Mark Morningstar's recent case series demonstrates that chiropractic adjustment along with use of the Pettibon system can yield excellent scoliosis reduction results.  In this case series, 19 scoliosis patients showed an average decrease in their scoliosis of 17 degrees after 4-6 weeks of treatment.  For the full article, including x-rays of several of these patients before an after treatment, click here.  Similar articles can be found here andhere. 

Not all scoliosis can be reduced or resolved.  Certain types of scoliosis result from malformation of spinal bones, are present to compensate for legs that are different lengths than one another, or of disease origin, and therefore cannot be corrected.  These cases, however might benefit from gentle chiropractic adjustment to ensure that the spine has as much movement and function as possible, and to ease the discomfort and pain that may be associated with scoliosis. 

The only way to determine whether you have a scoliosis, and if so, if that scoliosis can be treated, is to have your spine checked.  Call or email us to schedule an appointment at Bartholomew Family Chiropractic for an assessment of whether your spine is "curvier" than it should be, and to explore whether you may benefit from chiropractic management.