Scoliosis Care in London Ontario: Expert Chiropractic Support for Spinal Health
When it comes to scoliosis care in London Ontario, early intervention is key. As a chiropractor who cares deeply about my patients’ well-being, I’ve seen the challenges scoliosis can pose to everyday life. With its association to a lower quality of life, increased chronic pain risk, and lower scores on the Short Form 36 Health Survey, scoliosis is a condition that affects far more than just the spine.
I believe early intervention is crucial because scoliotic curves can be progressive, impacting long-term quality of life if left unaddressed. My goal is to offer personalized chiropractic care that focuses on managing and potentially improving your curve. Together, we’ll build a treatment plan to support your journey toward a healthier, more comfortable future with scoliosis care in London Ontario.
Understanding Scoliosis and Early Care
An estimated 2-4% of Canadians have scoliosis. This means that hundreds of thousands of Canadians are estimated to have this condition. The majority are diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis, which typically shows up during adolescence. By addressing your scoliosis early with chiropractic care for scoliosis, it is hoped that you can slow the progression of the curve, pain, and debility.
What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. A healthy spine naturally has some curves from back to front – a cervical (neck) curve, a thoracic (mid-back) curve, a lumbar (low back) curve, and a pelvic (tailbone) curve. Unlike these normal curves, scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. Additionally, the vertebrae of a scoliotic spine twist on each other, making the condition more complex.
How Does Scoliosis Progress?
A diagnosis of scoliosis is made when the spine curves more than ten degrees to the right or left. In some situations, the curve can become more extreme, leading to significant health consequences, which is why early scoliosis care in London Ontario is essential.
Over time, the body compensates by building muscles that pull the spine into increased lateral curves to keep the head level. This progressive misalignment can be exacerbated by degenerative diseases and traumatic events. Many cases of scoliosis begin while the body is going through rapid growth spurts, especially in 10-12 year olds. Scoliosis can also develop in older adults due to degenerative disorders like osteoporosis.
What is Scoliosis and How Does it Impact Health?
Scoliosis care in London Ontario starts with understanding the condition. Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. A healthy spine naturally has some curves in it from back to front – a cervical (neck) curve, a thoracic (mid-back) curve, a lumbar (low back) curve and a pelvic (tailbone) curve. Unlike the back to front typical curves in a healthy spine, scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. As well, the vertebrae of a scoliosis spine twist on each other.
Scoliosis is a condition that is on a continuum. It can be mild to severe, and therefore, there are a continuum of ways scoliosis can affect the body and overall health – physical, mental, social-emotional. Here are eight ways scoliosis affects the body:
- Scoliosis causes visible skeletal deformities, from an uneven eye tilt, a leaning to one side, uneven leg length and more.
- Interferes with signals from your nervous system.
- There can be painful muscular imbalances.
- Can prevent or impede recirculation of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) to your brain.
- Might interrupt your digestive system.
- May interfere with the female reproductive system.
- Could reduce cardiac function and lung capacity.
- May negatively impact mental health.
The Importance of Early Scoliosis Care in London Ontario
Early detection and treatment are key when it comes to managing scoliosis. Chiropractic care can help slow down the progression of scoliosis, providing much-needed relief for those dealing with this condition in London, Ontario.
Recognizing the Signs of Scoliosis
The most noticeable signs of scoliosis are physical asymmetries caused by spinal curvature, including:
- Shoulders of different heights or one shoulder blade sticking out
- Head not centered on the body
- Hips of different heights or one hip sticking out
- A rib cage that protrudes on one side
- Uneven back when bending forward
- Ears not aligned with shoulders (when viewed from the side)
- Body leaning to one side
- One leg appearing shorter
Once someone notices these signs, a medical examination is recommended. A physical exam will assess the gait, the appearance of the spine, and may include the Adams Position Test, where a person bends forward to check for a noticeable curvature. X-rays can confirm the extent of the scoliosis.
There are varying degrees of scoliosis. You may not see the sideways curve and you may not experience any pain. It usually starts as a minor bend in the spine and progresses over a lifetime. A diagnosis of scoliosis is made when the spine curves more than ten degrees to the right or left. In some situations, the curve can become more extreme. In these cases, there can be significant health consequences.
Over time, the body will try to compensate, building muscles that will continue to pull the spine into increase lateral curves in order to keep the head level. This progressive misalignment can occur or be exacerbated by degenerative diseases and traumatic events. Many cases of scoliosis begin while the body is going through rapid growth spurts, in 10-12 year olds; as well, it can develop in older adults because of degenerative disorders such as osteoporosis.
If scoliosis and its cause go unchecked, it can progress to severe, long-term consequences. As it progresses, it can lead to back, neck, shoulder and buttock pain, and in severe cases, it can lead to limited lung and heart capacity, painful menstruation and physical disability.
Beyond physical discomfort, scoliosis can have a social-emotional affect, especially among adolescents who may feel self-conscious about their appearance. Addressing the physical and social-emotional components is important for a comprehensive approach to care.
The Signs of Scoliosis
The most noticeable signs of scoliosis are physical asymmetries caused by spinal curvature, including:
- Shoulders are different heights or one shoulder blade sticks out
- Head not centered on body
- Hips are different heights or one hip sticks out
- One side of rib cage sticks out
- When bending forward, sides of back are different heights
- Ear not aligned with shoulder (when viewed from the side)
- Body leaning to one side
- One leg appears shorter
Once someone notices one of the above signs, a medical examination would be recommended. A physical exam will assess the gait (walk), look and palpate the spine. They will note whether an Adams Position Test is present or not. The Adams Position Test requires the person to ben forward as far as possible. If a noticeable curvature is seen, then a specific series of x-rays will be used to confirm the extend of the scoliosis.
How Chiropractic Can Support Scoliosis Care in London Ontario
Chiropractic care for scoliosis care in London Ontario is designed to prevent the curvature from worsening and to manage symptoms while improving your quality of life. Chiropractors may not always be able to fully straighten the spine, yet people under chiropractic care often show marked improvement in their spinal curvature, pain, and function.
Since scoliosis affects both the structure of the spine and the nervous system, chiropractic care for scoliosis addresses both components holistically. This makes chiropractic a natural fit for those looking for non-invasive approaches to scoliosis pain relief.
Chiropractors are not always able to straighten your spine completely, yet people under chiropractic care have shown a marked improvement in their spine curvature, pain and function. As well, because scoliosis is both a structural and neurological condition, having a chiropractor on your health and wellness team makes sense since chiropractic care addresses the structure of the spine while activating the central nervous system.
Chiropractic Care for Pain Relief
Pain management is a key part of scoliosis care in London Ontario. Chiropractic adjustments can help reduce pain associated with scoliosis by addressing structural misalignments. Beyond just spinal adjustments, chiropractors can provide a full-body approach that addresses muscle imbalances and joint dysfunctions caused by scoliosis.
The Neurological Benefits of Scoliosis Care in London Ontario
Chiropractic care for scoliosis also supports the nervous system. Misalignments in the spine can interfere with neural pathways, and chiropractic adjustments help restore proper nerve function. Some neurological benefits of scoliosis care in London Ontario include:
1. Improved Neural Pathways: Misalignments or abnormal curvatures in the spine can affect neural pathways, disrupting the flow of signals between the brain and body. Chiropractic adjustments aim to realign the spine, helping restore optimal nerve function and communication.
2. Reduction of Pain Signals: Adjustments can help reduce pain signals by relieving pressure on pinched nerves and irritated spinal structures.
3. Enhanced Proprioception: Proprioception, or the body’s sense of position in space, is partially governed by spinal health. Chiropractic adjustments aim to enhance proprioceptive feedback, which can be beneficial for coordination and balance in scoliosis patients.
4. Stress Relief: Chronic pain, disability and cosmetic changes are among the factors that can increase stress levels. Chiropractic care has a positive impact on the nervous system, making it more adaptable to the stressors of life.
5. Neuroplasticity Support: Chiropractic care seeks to support neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and change. By improving spinal alignment and reducing pain, chiropractic adjustments may aid in optimizing the nervous system’s ability to adapt and form healthier patterns.
A Whole-Body Approach to Scoliosis Care
Because chiropractors focus on the entire musculoskeletal system, scoliosis care in London Ontario addresses related issues like muscle imbalances and joint dysfunction. Chiropractic care for scoliosis includes exercises and stretches tailored to each patient’s needs, helping improve flexibility, core strength, and overall posture.
Value in Exercise Program to Complement Chiropractic Care for Scolosis
Here’s how these exercises can be beneficial:
1. Customized Strengthening: Since scoliosis often leads to muscle imbalances, targeted exercises can strengthen the muscles around the spine that support posture. Chiropractors assess which muscles are weak or overactive and create exercises to balance them, with the goal of reducing curvature progression.
2. Improved Flexibility and Mobility: Gentle stretching exercises aim to improve flexibility and range of motion. They can help reduce stiffness, making daily activities easier and more comfortable.
3. Core Stability: Core-strengthening exercises are designed to improve spinal support. A strong core stabilizes the spine, making it less susceptible to further misalignment and discomfort.
4. Postural Awareness: Postural training exercises focus on increasing awareness of body positioning. This practice helps individuals with scoliosis become more conscious of their posture and actively work towards better alignment.
5. Progress Monitoring: Chiropractors monitor progress and adapt exercises as needed. They ensure that the exercise regimen aligns with changes in the spine, providing continual improvement over time.
6. Patient Education: Chiropractors also provide education on posture, ergonomics and lifestyle changes that can support long-term spinal health.
Customized Chiropractic Plans for Scoliosis
Each scoliosis care plan is personalized. As the chiropractor at LifeHouse, I design care plans based on factors like age, overall health, and the severity of the scoliosis. Through regular monitoring and adjustments, we ensure that your scoliosis care in London Ontario fits your needs.
Your journey toward better spinal alignment and overall health should be guided by research, consultation with experts and clear understanding of your treatment goals. We are here to support you every step of the way.
If you have any further questions or would like to discuss your scoliosis with a qualified chiropractor, please contact us. Your well-being is our priority, and we are dedicated to helping you live a healthier, more comfortable life.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward managing your scoliosis.
