The term scoliosis refers to a deviation in the natural alignment of the spine, as seen from the front of the body. We talk quite in depth in our articles about the impact a misaligned spine, from a side view, can have on the health of the body, but a scoliosis can be just as detrimental. A diagnosis of scoliosis can be thrown around quite frequently nowadays, as cases of the condition can vary significantly in the symptoms they can cause. A lot of the cases we see are usually insignificant, where the spine has a slight twist or curve to the side, but in some cases the curve can resemble a deep ‘C’ or ’S’ shape. As cases of scoliosis can cause back pain, it is something we can generally help with – so what is our approach to scoliosis?
What is a Scoliosis?
A scoliosis commonly presents itself, if it is severe, when the patient is a child, as the signs are usually first spotted by parents. Signs that are usually an indication of scoliosis are; a curved spine that can be seen visibly either from the front or back, a lean to one side, shoulders that are uneven or unevenly pronounced ribs. If the scoliosis is mild, it most often won’t be detected until much later in life as this is when cases of back pain tend to appear. When the curve deviates from an ideal alignment, parts of the spine that are more delicate than others may be put under more pressure. This means that areas of the spine that are designed to carry the least weight, are put under more pressure and become susceptible to injury. When the spine first begins to deviate from its natural alignment, back pain will not usually appear straight away. This is because it takes time to cause damage that will inevitably cause back pain. Sadly, this means when patients have back pain there may already be considerable damage to the spine that will require more treatment and rehabilitation to correct.
The Degree of a Scoliosis
With that said, most of the cases of scoliosis that we see at the clinic are mild cases. It can be daunting to receive a diagnosis of scoliosis, especially if this is the first time you’re hearing about such a problem. It’s often more scary when looking up the condition online as there are lots of documented cases of severe scoliosis, but chances are it is a very slight bend in the spine where the symptoms can be eased to help.
As mentioned in a previous article on a scoliosis combined with a kyphosis, the degree of a scoliosis can be very slight, to the point it’s almost worth not labelling it as a diagnosed scoliosis due to the panic it can cause in a patient, when it’s really just a slight bend. As everyday activities such as walking, running, or weight-bearing, can apply pressure to the spine, if your spine is correctly aligned this pressure can be absorbed easily. But in the case of spinal misalignment, such as in scoliosis patients, this pressure may cause undue stress on the spine that can be problematic down the line.
How Can Scoliosis Be Treated?
Treatment for scoliosis can be quite varied depending on the age at which it was caught. If it has been caught during childhood, very often measures will be taken at a young age to correct the spine. This could involve wearing a back brace, or surgery if the child/young adult has stopped growing.
Corrective surgery often involves spinal implants that connect in an attempt to straighten the spine. In most cases, the cause of a scoliosis is unknown as it cannot be influenced by bad posture or types of exercise, they are most likely present from birth due to underdevelopment in the womb, or in adults can be caused by disc degeneration later in life.
Contact Us Below
Our Approach To Scoliosis Using The Mayfair Method
Our approach at The Mayfair Clinic to scoliosis starts with a thorough examination. We first need to identify the severity of the scoliosis, this is usually done through the measurement of X-rays. Our specialist software enables the curves of the spine to be quantified, we can then assess which area of your body is experiencing the most pain and help relieve the pressure from that part of the spine.
Our variety of therapies here can help to reduce that pressure, calm inflammation and ease pain levels. Spinal decompression is a therapy that can be useful for relieving the pressure, as it uses a small amount of the body weight to gently stretch the spine and alleviate the force on the nerves that can cause pain as a result of compression on the disc.
Using our vibration therapy we will help to relieve the discomfort from stiffened muscles that can occur as the body’s protective mechanism against an injury. We can also use our spinal adjusting technology to free any stiff-joints in the spine, a kinder alternative to manual manipulation done by traditional chiropractors or osteopaths.
Finally, laser therapy can be used as a powerful, soothing treatment to ease pain and increase the speed of healing. Laser therapy targets the injury at a cellular level to help increase the amount of energy in the cells. Essentially, this helps to kick-start the healing process in an injury that is long-standing, or improve the rate of healing in a fresher injury. Increasing cell energy in turn helps produce blood vessels, which brings greater circulation to the injury – this is what helps the body to heal itself.
So if you, or a loved one, is suffering with a scoliosis, call our expert team today to find out if we can help. Our initial consultation is priced at £250 for an examination, your first treatment, X-rays if clinically necessary, and your results. Subsequent treatments are priced at £150 per session. Call us on 0203 947 3222 or email us at info@themayfairclinic.com today to find out how we can help!
[gmap-embed id=”6018″]