Hi this is Dr. Shaboo and I'm from PhysioChiroWellness and today I'm going to
answer some of your questions - the typical question what is what is
structural scoliosis? So I wanted to draw your attention to the fact that
structural scoliosis is actually different than non structural or
functional scoliosis. Structural scoliosis is actually a curvature that's
fixed in the spine that is usually from genetics, birth, a congenital defect
of a rather functional or non structural scoliosis
is a temporary problem either through trauma or it's temporary
pressure on the spine. Now how do you distinguish between the curvatures
there's usually the curvature in the lower aspect or the upper aspects of
those are different types of scoliosis or both so you can have a C curve
which is a curve in the shape of the C so the spine goes a little bit to one
side and then goes back to its proper alignment. Those C curves could
be in the lower back or the upper back and an S curve is when there's a
curvature in the mid-back and in the lower back. Now those are the different
types so structural is very hard and and actually you're not able to fix
the structural scoliosis as opposed to a functional scoliosis. With functional
we're able to figure out what caused that misalignment and actually start to
cater the spine and depending on the age - with scoliosis if you catch it during
the growing stages of adolescence you're able to use bracing, use exercise, use
chiropractic, and start to create better angles and start to cater the
spine in a better form. Same with structural slightly - the problem with
structural is that it is very fixed and harder to fix than then functional but
with functional you're able to create a better structure in the degrees and
actually able to kind of bring that spine back into its proper alignment so
let's go back to structural how can you tell if you have a
structural scoliosis - so there's some early signs usually the shoulder blade
is off or if the hips are a misaligned or if you feel that you have more range
of motion on one side than the other that's an indication that there's
scoliosis. Early x-rays as well if we find that the spine starts to move in a
certain direction through x-rays were able to tell that there is a little bit
of a list or starting to grow into that curvature. Sometimes muscle imbalances as
well so if you feel like you're stronger on one side than the other that's an
early sign for scoliosis. So what can treat scoliosis? That's a really big and
important question in the beginning stages when they're in adolescence you
would want a communication with a medical doctor as well as the
chiropractor to help work on the alignment issue and with that there's
brace so structural braces that they can do to help cater the proper growth of
that spine and adolescents would have to wear that throughout their growing
stages, exercises are catered; certain exercises working on strengthening the
side that's very weak and then stretching out the other side, so it's
actually two different exercises and stretches for the side that is more
convex versus concave, so if the spine is going towards let's say the right side
that right side is over stretched out we have to contract that side to kind of
push the spine in so to contract that spine that side we're gonna work on
strengthening exercises, meanwhile the side that's underneath the seat curve so
let's say the left hand side that sides already contracted that's a problem we
need to actually stretch out that side. So what I'm trying to get at is the
exercises are prescribed for one side different than the other so it
counterbalances and allows that spine to move straight. Other thing is
chiropractic moving the joints allows it to push into the proper area some joints
will have to push towards Center some joints would have to push away so again
chiropractic along with growing in adolescence is really important and then physio
chiropractic and then the fact that massage is really important as well as
because there's a lot of inflammation in the body and to help the body
accommodate the new alignment the new exercises you have to break that scar tissue
out and allow for that alignment to take place. So those three
combinations are extremely important then it wouldn't be chiro alone or
physio alone or massage alone it's the combination of all three along with the
communication with the medical doctor so that we're able to take x-rays in six
months to a year and see the progress of those degrees. OK anything less than 25
degrees you're looking at mild, anything above it is more moderate, and then
towards around 36 and higher you're looking at severe. Now let's say you
passed the adolescence stage, so you're an adult you've been dealing with scoliosis
for a while you might have done some exercises but it never changes - changed
your structure, and so with that functional scoliosis we're
still able to make some effect it just won't be what we're delaying any future
problems with the degree, we're delaying any future problems when it comes to
muscle imbalances, tearing, so we can help on that aspect. With a structural one if
it hadn't been worked on at adolescence if they didn't go through that route
it's much more harder to fix and in that case we would help in terms of evening
with orthotics because that would be your foundation. We'd help you with
exercises and ways to still strengthen the muscles but in terms of fixing the
actual structure of the spine, we're not able to do that and I wouldn't say that
anyone really could unless it was a surgical enhancement and the surgery is
very tough and I don't think that they would be able to do that for you without
weighing the risks and the risks and the cons from that. So I hope that answers
your questions again I want to draw your attention to structural is something
that is congenital it is something that comes from birth or
genetics and it is something that is very hard and fixed. Functional is more
related - could be trauma, it could be maybe you're an athlete and you
pitch with one arm so related to mechanical, that is a little bit more
easy to take care of. Both of those seizures if we are found the early signs
in adolescence you're able to help develop it from progressing to a
worse case. If they're an adult again we can help monitor, maintain, and allow it
again not to progress as well as work on with the muscles with stretching with
strengthening and with helping to bring that that alignment a little bit
back-end. OK if you have any other questions please give us a call at
any of out PnysioChiroWellness locations and again an initial
assessment would be the first step so that we have certain tests we can see
where the scoliosis is, what is the degree, what level are you at, and then
see the whole clinical picture, and we can find ways that can help you in an
integrated approach. Thank you so much