One day at the store, your child takes off the shirt they were wearing to try on a shirt you’ve picked out for them. They just so happen to bend over to pick something up when you notice it—their spine appears to be curving to one side. After some Googling and searching on WebMD, you are convinced that your child has scoliosis in Richardson. Should you be worried? Honestly, you don’t know much about it, but it sounds a little scary at first glance. Well, here are five facts you should know!
The Causes of Scoliosis Are Largely Unknown.
As a parent, you may find yourself asking how you could have prevented your child from developing scoliosis, but the truth is that it isn’t connected to environmental factors. Although heavy backpacks and poor posture are linked to many other spinal issues, researchers have been unable to identify what specifically leads certain adolescents to experience scoliosis. Some evidence suggests that genetics may play a role, but no one is to blame!
Early Detection Is Vital.
It is believed that the growth spurts commonly experienced during the adolescent phase may be responsible for scoliosis. When a child reaches skeletal maturity, their spinal curvature is not likely to progress or worsen. That is why it is important to continue your child’s checkups during their preteen and teenage years when growth starts and progresses. When caught early, less invasive measures can be utilized to address the condition.
Scoliosis Can Be Difficult to See at First.
Usually, it takes an evaluation from a medical professional to raise a red flag for scoliosis because the early signs can be challenging to recognize. It often starts with uneven hips or shoulders, which can be tricky to properly identify with active or hormonal preteens.
Most Patients with Scoliosis Don’t Need Treatment.
If you hear that your child has scoliosis, you may think that they automatically require some kind of treatment. However, that isn’t true! Most of the time, all that is required is close monitoring and examinations with medical professionals about every four to six months. If the curvature increases significantly, then treatment with a brace may become necessary with your chiropractor in Richardson. In even fewer cases, surgery may be the best option for correcting scoliosis.
Surgery Is a Last Resort.
Although effective and necessary for some patients, surgery is considered a final option for more severe or progressive cases. Rigid braces have proven successful for many patients and enable them to avoid more invasive treatments. These braces guide the spine to correct itself, or at least not worsen, as it matures. If surgery is needed, then your child will likely need a recovery time of a couple of months before returning to normal activities.
Armed with this information, you’ll be able to have some peace of mind moving forward and know how to proceed. Also, you can help your child through this phase that is full of change. If you think your child may have scoliosis, you need to take them to a chiropractor to be evaluated as soon as possible to get them on the right track!
About the Author
Dr. Z has been practicing for more than 20 years. His practice, AlignRight Chiropractic offers treatment to patients with scoliosis in addition to physiotherapy for auto accident injuries. In his career, he has received all 4 parts of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and NBCE Physical Rehabilitation certification. If you would like your child to be evaluated for scoliosis, you can make an appointment with Dr. Z by contacting AlignRight Chiropractic’s website.
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