The origin of the word Scoliosis comes from skolios, a Greek word meaning twisted or crooked. The definition of scoliosis is a lateral deviation of the spine from the midsaggital plane (midline). Although forward and backward deviation is also usually involved. Scoliosis can vary from being so mild that you never know you have it, to being so severe that your organs have trouble forming and functioning.
So what causes scoliosis?
As a chiropractor, this is a very common question. Scoliosis can have many causes, which are categorized into idiopathic, congenital, neuromuscular, Neurofibromatosis and other causes like infection, radiation, trauma and severe degeneration. The most common causes of Scoliosis are idiopathic and congenital, which is what this blog will focus on.
Idiopathic Scoliosis
The term idiopathic means rising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause, which may be a misnomer now since research has determined some factors that contribute to idiopathic scoliosis, although an exact cause is still obscure. Factors include: genetics, muscular dysfunction, changes in hormone levels (melatonin and growth hormone), walking on two feet vs. four, brain and spinal cord damage, postural reflex dysfunction, and balance issues (vestibular dysfunction). Many of the other changes found in the spine and surrounding tissues in patients with idiopathic scoliosis are a due to the eventual shape of the curve and may not actually be the cause.
Tell me more about hormones.
A very interesting study by Machida et. al, 1993, and a number of studies following their original study, has demonstrated that scoliosis can be induced into growing chickens and bipedal rats (rats that walk on 2 legs), by surgically removing the pineal gland, which is the gland that produces the hormone melatonin. By injecting these animals with the melatonin they are missing, they do not develop scoliosis. Interestingly, rats who had their pineal gland removed but were allowed to walk on 4 legs, also never developed scoliosis. This suggests a critical postural/balance influence in combination with melatonin.
Treatment for scoliosis.
All children should be screened for scoliosis by their chiropractor or family doctor, when they reach puberty. Pre-teen years are usually the time when parents begin to notice curves in the spine. Chiropractors are highly trained to assess, take x-rays and diagnose the type and severity of scoliosis. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment can include the following: exercise, custom bracing, spinal mobilization, stretches, postural education and even surgery for severe cases. As the body continues to mature, regular x-rays need to be taken to watch for progression of the curve, which may alter treatment decisions. After puberty, when the bones no longer grow, spinal curves usually stay the same. Although during pregnancy, curve progressions should also be monitored.
If you are unsure about scoliosis, visit a chiropractor to have your spine assessed. Its always better to have an assessment done at an early age, because waiting could cause the curve to develop beyond the scope of conservative care.
So what causes scoliosis?
As a chiropractor, this is a very common question. Scoliosis can have many causes, which are categorized into idiopathic, congenital, neuromuscular, Neurofibromatosis and other causes like infection, radiation, trauma and severe degeneration. The most common causes of Scoliosis are idiopathic and congenital, which is what this blog will focus on.
Idiopathic Scoliosis
The term idiopathic means rising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause, which may be a misnomer now since research has determined some factors that contribute to idiopathic scoliosis, although an exact cause is still obscure. Factors include: genetics, muscular dysfunction, changes in hormone levels (melatonin and growth hormone), walking on two feet vs. four, brain and spinal cord damage, postural reflex dysfunction, and balance issues (vestibular dysfunction). Many of the other changes found in the spine and surrounding tissues in patients with idiopathic scoliosis are a due to the eventual shape of the curve and may not actually be the cause.
Tell me more about hormones.
A very interesting study by Machida et. al, 1993, and a number of studies following their original study, has demonstrated that scoliosis can be induced into growing chickens and bipedal rats (rats that walk on 2 legs), by surgically removing the pineal gland, which is the gland that produces the hormone melatonin. By injecting these animals with the melatonin they are missing, they do not develop scoliosis. Interestingly, rats who had their pineal gland removed but were allowed to walk on 4 legs, also never developed scoliosis. This suggests a critical postural/balance influence in combination with melatonin.
Treatment for scoliosis.
All children should be screened for scoliosis by their chiropractor or family doctor, when they reach puberty. Pre-teen years are usually the time when parents begin to notice curves in the spine. Chiropractors are highly trained to assess, take x-rays and diagnose the type and severity of scoliosis. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment can include the following: exercise, custom bracing, spinal mobilization, stretches, postural education and even surgery for severe cases. As the body continues to mature, regular x-rays need to be taken to watch for progression of the curve, which may alter treatment decisions. After puberty, when the bones no longer grow, spinal curves usually stay the same. Although during pregnancy, curve progressions should also be monitored.
If you are unsure about scoliosis, visit a chiropractor to have your spine assessed. Its always better to have an assessment done at an early age, because waiting could cause the curve to develop beyond the scope of conservative care.
Source...