The National Institue of Health states that of every 1000 children born, 3 to 5 will develop some type of scoliosis. The National Scoliosis Foundation states that 2-3% of the population has scoliosis. It is said there is no known cure, and that treatments can have varring levels of success. So why do I need a Chiropractor if I have been diagnosed with Scoliosis?
1. You may not have scoliosis… you may be subluxated…. Or both.
Not all “curvature of the spine” is a scoliosis. Some “lateral deviations” are more appropriately diagnosed as vertebral subluxations. In fact, some subluxations can become scoliosis if left undetected at an early age. A subluxation is a misalignment of the spine bones that interfere with nerves and the mental impulses that travel through the nerves…. Think of it like a light switch pressing on the electrical wire, interfering with the flow of electricity through the wire, thus dimming or turning off the light (organs and muscles).
2. Heart and lung issues can stem from Scoliosis… and subluxations
It is well known that scoliosis can lead to heart and lung issues. When nerves are interfered with due to scoliosis or subluxations, the organ or muscle that the nerves coordinate receive “less power” making them function less than optimally. This includes vital organs such as the Heart and Lungs. If the power to the heart is “turned off” what happens to you? Right, death ensues. But what happens when the power is “dimmed”? You’ll still live, just not optimally. Chiropractic helps you lead an optimized life.
3. People with Scoliosis tend to lead less active lives, people who are subluxation-free lead more active lives
Scoliosis interferes with nerve function, leads to postural distortions, and affects mobility. This means a reduction in activity and therefore health.
Sure, not ALL people with scoliosis will have this reduction. We’ve all heard about professional athletes who compete while dealing with scoliosis. However, would you rather compete WITH a scoliosis, or do something about it for the better?
4. Postural distortions determine that you are subluxated, x-rays determine if you have scoliosis
Two common tests used to screen for scoliosis are bending at the waist to touch the toes and a postural assessment. In all honesty, the only way to truly determine if you have scoliosis is by taking an x-ray. Many times we take an x-ray on a child who was found to have a potential scoliosis on one of these tests to find out they are subluxated instead. Likewise, many times children are given a clean bill of health on one of these screening measures only to come into us and have an x-ray taken to find they do have a scoliosis.
The posture test does give us a good indication as to if a child is subluxated or not. Look at your loved one from the front or back… Is one hip or shoulder higher (or lower) than the other? Each should be parallel to the ground. How about the head? Are the ears level or tilted to one side? Does the torso appear “shifted” over one hip or the other? These are indications of a subluxation. Good posture is a vertical line between the eyes, chin, breast-bone, belly-button down to the floor. Any angles in this line indicate a subluxation.
When you look at your loved one from the side, does their head appear forward of their chest? How about the shoulders? Are they rounded forward? Good posture is a vertical line connecting the ear, shoulder, hip and ankle. Angles to this line indicate a subluxation also.
- Correcting spinal alignment has to do with changing ligament integrity, not muscular integrity
You can exercise a scoliosis all you want, but exercise alone, is futile. Muscles primarily move bones through space. Some muscles have postural functions, but it is a secondary function. Ligaments hold bone to bone. Chiropractic adjustments help to change the integrity of ligaments (like exercise changes the integrity of muscles) in order to change position. It is a process that happens over time because each successive adjustment builds on the previous adjustment, training the body where to hold the alignment.
The process is analogous to why you and I can’t just lift a 500 weight… you have to train to do it over time. start with 50 pounds and build to 100… 200…300 etc. The difference is we are doing it with ligaments, rather than muscles.
The next time your child gets their scoliosis screening at school or their pediatrician, be sure to have them checked for subluxation at your local Chiropractor also. Only Chiropractors are trained to know the difference between scoliosis and subluxation.
Yours in health,
Dr. Brian
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