Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. While scoliosis can be caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, the cause of most scoliosis is unknown.

Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some children develop spine deformities that continue to get more severe as they grow. Severe scoliosis can be disabling. An especially severe spinal curve can reduce the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly.

Learning that your child has scoliosis can be frightening despite the fact that it is a condition that affects between five and seven million people in the United States alone. Suddenly being faced with the prospects of corrective treatments and talks of bracing or even surgery can have any parent on edge, but surgery is not the only option for the treatment of scoliosis. For many patients, chiropractic care can be extremely effective at correcting scoliosis and alleviating the pain that can be associated with the condition. Any serious medical diagnosis is scary for a parent, but knowing your options and the benefits afforded by routes that do not involve going under the surgical knife can help you to make the right decision for your child.

Doctors don’t know what causes the most common type of scoliosis — although it appears to involve hereditary factors, because the disorder tends to run in families. Less common types of scoliosis may be caused by:

A Chiropractor can diagnose scoliosis and is specially trained to treat the problems of the spine. They are able to accurately determine the extent of the condition. X-rays may be used to determine the rotation and direction of the curve.

Your chiropractor’s goal is to detect scoliosis while the child is still young. If started on an exercise and chiropractic therapy program early enough, it is possible to slow, stop or even reverse the progress of the spinal curvature.

Traditional medical management of scoliosis often involves the ‘wait and see’ approach. Although this may work for slow progressing cases, others may progress rapidly creating significant spinal deformity. When the problem becomes severe enough, braces or surgery may be necessary. The chiropractic approach is to use specific spinal adjustments along with a program of corrective exercises. Chiropractors return the vertebrae to a more normal position. With careful monitoring, regular treatment and exercise the spinal deformity of scoliosis can be minimized and invasive procedures can be avoided.