Scoliosis refers to left and right sideways curvature of the spine. While it can’t be cured, Dr. Joe Mikluscak of Acute and Wellness Chiropractic Clinic in Manassas, Virginia, helps in the treatment of mild-to-moderate cases, relieving any accompanying symptoms. Call the clinic today for an assessment of your treatment options.

What causes scoliosis?

Scoliosis most often accompanies a growing spurt prior to puberty. Why this affects some people rather than others isn’t known, and while scoliosis may correct itself as the patient grows, it can’t be cured through outside intervention. Most cases are, fortunately, mild and self-correcting over time. More severe cases may require braces or surgery to prevent increases in curvature. While mild scoliosis rarely affects the body, severe cases may interfere with breathing and mobility problems, as well as cause pain.

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What symptoms does scoliosis display?

Scoliosis usually reveals itself visually at first. There are rarely any pain symptoms as it develops. In children, it’s often friends or sports teammates who first notice the visual irregularities. These usually start with things such as uneven waist and shoulders, where a shoulder blade may be more prominent than the other. Also, pelvic tilting elevates the hip over the other side. This may affect the patient’s gait, and the spine may show a slight sideways S shape. Twisting of the spine may accompany the curve, causing ribs to have an uneven, unbalanced appearance.

How does chiropractic care with Dr. Miklusak treat scoliosis?

It’s important to remember that scoliosis isn’t curable. It is, however, quite treatable, and chiropractic care is a natural match for mild-to-moderate cases. Since chiropractic treatment is all about returning the body to proper balance to enable natural healing, using the correct adjustment methods helps reduce both scoliosis curvature and some of the problems associated with it.

However, many chiropractic adjustments target joint mobility, and that’s often not a problem in the scoliosis patient. Their issue is joint location. Many conventional techniques may cause more pressure on a scoliotic spine, rather than relieving it. The first stage of treatment must be about relieving pressure, particularly in places where scoliosis likely presses on nerves. Once that pressure is relieved, treatment can move to repositioning.

Though chiropractic adjustments help patients, scoliosis treatment depends heavily on the commitment of the patient. There are breathing and body training exercises that must be done between chiropractic visits for treatment to progress. A scoliosis patient committed to their care plan sees improvement and maximizes chiropractic help.