Published: October 13, 2008 10:56 am            

Scoliosis prevention

Dr. Heather Wright, Democrat Columnist

This month, scoliosis is the topic for discussion. Some people have heard of it, some remember getting checked for it in school, and others really don’t know what it is.

In a nutshell, scoliosis is a sideways curvature or “S” shape to the spine. This is not to be confused with the forward hunching that is sometimes seen in older people. Scoliosis is a curvature seen from right to left.

The problem with scoliosis is it puts increased strain on not only the spinal joints themselves, but also all the ligaments, muscles and other soft tissue around the curvature. In severe cases, it can even put pressure on the lungs, heart and other organs that may be near the curvature.

Probably the best known scoliosis type is the one found in childhood. This is often the most severe and regular chiropractic care, teamed with orthopedic care that can help control the worsening of the curve as the child grows.

One fact many people are not aware of is you can actually develop a scoliosis as you go through life from stress you put into the spine, habits, postures and traumas. The body reacts to those stressors by gradually adapting, and one way the spine accommodates is to develop the scoliotic curvatures. This is especially true if you are not taking care of your spine through regular preventative chiropractic adjustments and maintaining muscle tone about the spine.

I like to think about it like this: We put stress into our spines. It’s unavoidable, but what are you doing to counteract that day-to-day wear and tear? We brush our teeth to counteract daily chemical stress on the teeth to prevent cavities, so where is your “spinal hygiene” program?

I’m not saying chiropractic can cure scoliosis, but I can say it often helps decrease development of curvatures and increases the function and efficiency of existing curvatures. This in turn helps decrease the development of osteoarthritis and degenerative changes that can lead to pain and other problems.

How do you tell if someone has a scoliosis? X-ray is very definitive, but as you look at your friends and family, take a peek at their shoulders, ears and hips. As you face them from front or back, if these structures — especially the hips and shoulders — are uneven comparatively from right to left, then that is an indicator they probably have scoliosis.

Start “people watching” and notice how many people have this indicator. Many do not even realize they have a scoliosis. Educate them when you find them and send them to a chiropractor! They’ll thank you down the road!

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“Back to Health” is published on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. Questions may be sent to Dr. Wright, B.S., D.C., CCEP, 702B Eureka, Weatherford, TX 76086 or by e-mail at hwright@ev1.net. Columns submitted to The Weatherford Democrat by guest writers reflect the opinions of the writer and in no way reflect the beliefs or opinions of The Weatherford Democrat.

        

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