Lower Back Treatment for Scoliosis

       When we think of low back pain we probably imagine that pain and discomfort resulting from something like an auto accident trauma, sprain/strain injuries from a form of repetitive hard labor or just from a simple slip and fall during an icy winter walk. There are, however, other causes of lower back pain that affect many people both young and old and these causes include congenital problems such as scoliosis. Scoliosis is defined as a lateral curvature of the spine. This curvature in some people can be severe and it has the ability to progressively worsen. Two forms of scoliosis include functional scoliosis which results when one leg is shorter than the other, and structural scoliosis which is a general abnormal spinal design. This congenital disorder may include degeneration of spinal discs and is more common in females.

Treatment

       Most cases of scoliosis are minor requiring only conservative treatment for the patient. Exercise is the most ideal lower back treatment for scoliosis to help a patient maintain spinal function while increasing energy and decreasing pain and discomfort. This strengthening exercise treatment plan is generally recommended to be combined with chiropractic care, massage therapy and physical therapy. Epidural steroid injections are sometimes prescribed by a primary care physician to be combined with these more conservative modalities to help alleviate pain from pinched nerves. Chiropractic spinal manipulation focused above and below the convexity is an appropriate treatment for scoliosis to free up restrictions caused by the disorder. Physical therapy and all other conservative treatment programs for a scoliosis patient does not correct the curvature but instead offers pain management and maintenance of function over the course of care.

References Cited in this Article

www.medicinenet.com

www.scoliosisassociates.com

www.spine-inc.com