June is Scoliosis Awareness month. And since a large part of our practice here at Optimum Wellness Centers is spine health, we have decided to highlight scoliosis and some of the current research that is being conducted in physical therapy to help people with this condition.
Many of us have heard of, or may even know of, someone who has scoliosis. But what is scoliosis? Scoliosis is a sideways or lateral curvature of the spine that typically occurs during a growth spurt or around puberty. In most cases, the cause is unknown, or idiopathic.
Scoliosis is typically divided into two categories: structural and functional scoliosis. Structural scoliosis is the actual curvature of the spine. It can be congenital (present at birth), or develop due to hormone dysfunction among other issues. Some other causes of structural scoliosis include cerebral palsy and birth defects. Functional scoliosis is when a curve occurs due to a different underlying condition, such as a leg length discrepancy, or to make sure the head is upright and straight. In general, about 3% of adolescents have scoliosis. Although both boys and girls can develop scoliosis, girls have a higher likelihood of their scoliosis worsening. Scoliosis most often occurs in the thoracic and lumbar spine, but it can also occur in the cervical spine.
For most children and teens, scoliosis is mild, but it can become more severe as the child/teen grows, most notably reducing the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly. In most cases, treatment is unnecessary. However, children with scoliosis will need to be monitored closely with x-rays to see if the scoliosis progresses. If the scoliosis is severe enough, bracing or surgery may be necessary.
It is important to note that other than corrective measures, scoliosis is not curable. However, with vigilance, stretching, and strengthening, scoliosis can be maintained, and greater flexibility gained. For those whose curve is more mild to severe, breathing exercises can be given to improve chest wall expansion and reduce the risk of hypoxia with activity. Additionally, with functional scoliosis, orthotics can be given to help reduce stress on other parts of the body that may be adversely affected.
In general, there is a growing body of research in physical therapy regarding specific exercises for scoliosis. The data and research regarding physical therapy treatment programs for scoliosis is mixed. That’s due to the varying exercises, inclusion criteria, ages, scoliosis Cobb angles, approaches, and referrals that make the data very difficult to interpret. Overall, there is limited data showing that combining specific exercises and bracing have been beneficial to individuals with scoliosis as compared to control groups.
Schroth Exercises