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Scoliosis

Im spine how are youConsidered an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, scoliosis begins as a postural distortion. If scoliosis is left untreated, it could become a permanent deformity.

There are three causes of scoliosis: congenital (genetic predisposition), habitual (behavioral routines), and idiopathic (unknown cause).

New Patients

Are There Obvious Clues?

A parent may notice that their child has a high shoulder or low hip that makes clothing fit poorly. Uneven shoe wear may also provide a clue.

Children with scoliosis may also experience back and leg pains, but these are usually dismissed as “growing pains.”

Wait and See?

Scoliosis may often worsen if left to just “run its course.” In severe cases, a child may need to wear an unsightly or cumbersome brace or have surgery that attaches steel rods, forcing the spine to straighten.

Our Approach

At Integrated Healthcare Centers, we can address scoliosis in the following ways:

Chiropractic care

Traditional chiropractic adjustments can help align the spine, as well as release any restricted vertebrae, allowing the spine to correct its position naturally. We can also use our adjusting instrument to stimulate the spine gently, allowing the spinal column to correct itself.

AllCore 360º

Our treatment for scoliosis has improved considerably with the addition of AllCore360º equipment, as we can now balance and stabilize the spine at a greater level than traditional core/trunk exercises. With AllCore 360º, we can reduce curvatures naturally by training the core muscles automatically with balance and stabilization, using isometric training principles to activate spinal muscles in a way that can’t be duplicated in the gym.

Traction

We also have long axis traction tables that we can use to gently stretch the spine to help reduce the spinal curves and reduce disc pressure due to abnormal posture and position.

What to Expect

Initially, we will treat with gentle chiropractic techniques and soft tissue care to stimulate change in the spine. This may cause some discomfort, as the body is getting ready for change, and soreness is inevitable. However, as treatment continues and the body changes, less soreness occurs, and the patient notices better posture, improved mobility, and more energy. This is likely due to the more efficient motion of the body, which wastes less energy trying to compensate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you welcome children and adults for scoliosis care?

Yes. Starting treatment earlier can always yield better results.

Isn’t a certain amount of sideways curvature considered normal?

No, any type of sideways curvature is abnormal. From the back, the spine should appear straight. When a person has scoliosis, there are typically two curves: a primary curve in one direction and a compensatory curve in the other direction.

When does scoliosis require care?

Some experts disagree on when scoliosis needs to be addressed. Most surgeons recommend surgery only when the spinal curvature is at or beyond 40 degrees. For small curves (those between 10-25 degrees), care is not considered necessary.

How long until patients typically notice relief?

Changes occur over 3-6 months, depending on the chronicity of the scoliosis, as well as the patient’s conditioning and activity levels. Those who exercise and regularly train tend to see faster results, as their soft tissue is already conditioned to change. Tissue deformity and correction occur over a long period.

A Patient Success Story

A young teenager entered our office for chiropractic care for mid to low back pain. On exam, we noticed a moderate scoliosis confirmed by the parents as a scoliosis diagnosed years ago. The pain was caused by the compensation of the body and muscles caused by the abnormal curvature.

Over a period of one month, the patient had pain relief with traditional chiropractic adjustment and correction. Over the span of three months, the patient reported improved posture and changes to the pain levels with activity. The patient now came in less frequently, but continued once a month while doing corrective exercises for spinal stretching and balancing.

The spinal curvature was reduced by considerable amounts without surgical intervention or bracing, and the patient is now in their 20s with continued improvements in pain, as well as reduced chances of increase of the curve.

Book an Appointment

If you think your child may have scoliosis, we recommend you bring them in, so we can provide an evaluation and determine if we can help.
Contact Us


Scoliosis Chantilly VA | (703) 957-3373