Many people experience structural abnormalities in their spine as a result of trauma, while some people are born with them. Scoliosis is a spinal anomaly that may cause your spine to bend sideways and form a 'S' or 'C' shape. Your spine naturally curves forward and backward, supporting and protecting the spinal cord. When you develop scoliosis, your spine can get curved sideways, giving your back an unnatural bending and shape. In most cases, you may not experience any difficulty as the symptoms may be mild. However, if it causes uneven posture and severe pain, many treatment therapies can help manage your symptoms and problems.
The exact cause that may contribute to this condition is unknown. But, you may have some inherent risk factors that lead to its occurrence. In some cases, it may even be a hereditary problem running in the family. Thus, it may be present at birth (congenital scoliosis). However, in many other people, it may occur during their adolescent years, with females being more likely to be affected than males, and the condition may progress rapidly.
Apart from these potential risk factors, if you have neuromuscular problems that impact your muscles and nerves supporting your spine, you can also be at risk of scoliosis. Neuromuscular conditions like cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, or even injury to your neuromuscular structures can put you at risk of scoliosis.
When you have scoliosis, the symptoms may not be so prominent in the beginning as the symptoms typically appear as you age, often leading to a late diagnosis of this condition. So when your symptoms do appear, you may feel inexplicable pain in your back and other symptoms, including:
- Difficulty in standing upright
- Weakness in the core muscles
- Numbness, weakness, or pain in the legs
If scoliosis occurs in childhood, you may notice the child awkwardly bending to one side. The spine is usually bent towards the right side on the upper back and to the left side on the lower back. This can be a prominent sign of scoliosis in your child. You may notice many other physical signs of scoliosis, such as:
- Uneven shoulders and waist
- Sticking out shoulder blades
- Misalignment of the head along the straight line of the pelvis
- Elevated hips
- Uneven leg length
- Limited or strenuous physical activity
Scoliosis is a progressive condition that requires the attention of a spine specialist. Otherwise, it can deteriorate your quality of life. If you experience the following symptoms of scoliosis or notice them in your child, seek medical attention as early as possible:
- Pain and numbness in the lower limbs
- Incessant lower back pain
- Breathing problems
- Difficulty in bending over
Fortunately, treating structural deformities due to scoliosis is possible with eight weeks of QI Spine Therapy at the QI Spine Clinic. Our spine specialists focus on critically evaluating physical signs and symptoms to pinpoint the root cause of the problem and devise appropriate treatment measures. Along with the physical evaluation of the back side of your body, our doctors may request your family and personal medical history to understand your hereditary risk of scoliosis. They may also seek information about your bowel, bladder, or motor symptoms that might indicate a more severe nerve damage condition or pressure caused by scoliosis. Imaging tests may be done to get a clear picture of your curved spinal structure through an X-ray, CT or MRI scan. Our spine doctors recommend screening children for scoliosis and other spinal deformities every 4 to 6 months for early detection and intervention.
If your symptoms are mild and you don't experience any problems due to scoliosis, you may not require any treatment. Our QI spine specialists may recommend that some patients consider a specialised exercise regimen explicitly curated for their needs. Thoracic bracing may be prescribed to prevent the worsening of your curvature and contain scoliosis. If our doctors find that your scoliosis is progressing rapidly, they may recommend undergoing surgery along with biofeedback for scoliosis correction using QI Spine Clinic's patented posture correction device.
Our team of spine specialists and physiotherapy experts at QI Spine Clinic is dedicated to diagnosing, managing, and correcting a wide range of congenital or adolescent spinal deformities. Backed by our patented scoliosis treatment devices, which are based on advanced technology, we strive to improve your quality of life.