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What is scoliosis and what causes it? |
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Scoliosis is a curvature of a normally straight spine. A rotation of the vertebra and the rib cage usually accompanies the curve. It affects nearly 12 million people world wide. If left untreated, the curve may progress and cause disfigurement, breathing and digestive problems and pain, which often limits the lifestyle of the individual. The average age is between 12 and 16 years, however there are many adults who suffer from the disease also.
Scoliosis can cause a number of conditions including moderate to severe back pain, digestive and respiratory complications, headaches, and severe deformity affecting the shoulders, ribs, pelvis, hips and arms.
Scoliosis is a progressive disease which can continue to progress into maturity. It is a disease which must be monitored aggressively; however this appears not to be the case, as millions of people with the disease can attest to.
The curve may be slight or significant, and may include the lumbar (lower spine), thoracic (middle spine), or thoracolumbar (both middle and lower spine).
The etiology or cause of scoliosis is complex. Disease, trauma, and injuries can contribute to a curvature of the spine.
Idiopathic scoliosis is one of the more common types of scoliosis. The cause of idiopathic scoliosis is unknown.
Scoliosis in Adults
Many adults suffer from scoliosis. It is usually a progression of the disease from childhood. This will occur if the scoliosis is not treated early or went unnoticed during childhood. Degenerative changes in the spine can cause scoliosis in adults also. These can be initiated through trauma or disease such as fractures, osteoporosis and degenerative discs.
Noticeable changes could include:
- Rib hump
- Low hip
- Low pelvis
- Leg length discrepancies
Some scoliosis patters present with breathing difficulty and neuropathy. Since the early degenerative changes are shown in younger patients, adults may present with severe advanced degenerative changes in the spine.
The SpineCor non rigid bracing system is a conservative way of managing scoliosis in adults. By allowing total freedom of movement, the SpineCor brace :
- Does not contribute to muscle atrophy as other braces do
- Allows for proprioceptive input, which is an integral component in neuromuscular reeducation
- Provides relief from muscular strain do to chronic postural changes
- Provides relief of chronic pain
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Curvature of spine
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