Scoliosis is a condition of the spine that causes it to curve to the side. The curve can make the spine look like the shape of an “S” or “C”. It can curve at any point in the spine, but most commonly the thoracic and lumbar regions. Most often the cause of scoliosis is unknown.
The normal spine has an S-shaped curve when viewed from the side. This shape allows for an even distribution of weight and flexibility of movement.
The treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is determined by the degree of the spinal curve at the time of diagnosis and by the anticipated progression of that curve. Mild cases may not require any treatment. More significant cases may be treated nonsurgically, using braces, or with spinal fusion surgery.
S-curve scoliosis is when the spine contains two curves, one in the upper and one in the lower back. When these curves go in opposite directions, they make the spine look similar to a letter 'S'. This type of scoliosis is less common than C-curve scoliosis, but it isn't necessarily accompanied by more severe symptoms.
Therefore, the need for identifying the most offending of the two curves is essential in our target-specific scoliosis treatment programs. The most challenging of scoliotic conditions is the “S” shaped scoliosis, as it presents with two curves, each bending to an opposite side.
This sideways curvature of the spine can have many side effects and health problems. So, the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers benefits for scoliosis disorder. If you are wondering whether scoliosis is a disability, the answer is YES! It is a disability, and you can get disability benefits for it.
Most mild scoliosis curves don't need treatment. If you have a mild curve, you'll need to go for regular checkups to be sure it doesn't get bigger. Scoliosis is more likely to get worse while your bones are still growing. So your health care provider will want to keep an eye on you as you grow.
Walking is a safe and healthy form of exercise for people with scoliosis because it doesn't exacerbate the condition's asymmetrical effects by overusing one side of the body. Walking also doesn't involve any form of hyperextension, nor does it involve repeated jarring motions that can increase compression.
For people who don't have access to a corrective brace, the best sleeping position is on your back. The second-best sleeping position, if you don't have a brace, is to sleep on your side. Whether that's the left or right side doesn't impact the scoliosis; it's just a matter of which side is the most comfortable to you.
The only known method for straightening scoliosis is surgery, which is typically reserved for patients with curves that are 50° or more. All other scoliosis treatment methods—including chiropractic—are designed to prevent the curvature from getting worse and/or manage your symptoms to improve your quality of life.
Potential Risks of Untreated Scoliosis
As the spine continues to curve, it can cause the shoulders, hips and rib cage to become uneven, leading to a noticeable hump on one side of the back. This can cause various physical problems, including muscle imbalances, back pain and reduced mobility.
Adult idiopathic scoliosis
“Idiopathic” means there is no known cause. This spine curvature may persist through adulthood and worsen as a person ages.
In more than 80 percent of cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown — a condition called idiopathic scoliosis. In other cases, scoliosis may develop as a result of degeneration of the spinal discs, as seen with arthritis, osteoporosis or as a hereditary condition that tends to run in families.
Age and Progression
Growth is the number-one trigger for progression, which is why adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the condition's most common form. When growth is no longer a factor, as a curvature progresses, the spine is vulnerable to compressive forces that affect the spine, its nerves, and surrounding muscles.
In most cases of idiopathic scoliosis, the curve develops around the time the patient hits puberty, then continues to progress throughout their adolescence until their spine has finished growing (usually at age 16-18).
Scoliosis can develop in infancy or early childhood. However, the primary age of onset for scoliosis is 10-15 years old, occurring equally among both genders.
Rarely does adult scoliosis alone cause paralysis or other severe neurologic problems, but it can be associated with lumbar stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal or tube where the nerves lay), which can result in nerve irritation, leg pain and possibly weakness.
The answer is that it depends on the individual's circumstances. The NDIS provides support to people with permanent and significant disabilities that affect their ability to perform daily activities. This includes people with scoliosis who have a significant functional impairment that is likely to be lifelong.
Not only are there different forms of scoliosis, but there are also different types of scoliosis curves, and an s-shaped scoliosis, also known as an S-curve scoliosis, or double-curve scoliosis, is just that: a scoliotic curve that bends in two directions and is more complex than a C-shaped scoliosis.
Scoliosis can affect various parts of the body, including the lungs, heart, brain, digestive system, muscles, nervous system, reproductive system and mental health.