Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine is "fixated" in a sidebent and rotated position due to structural bone and soft tissue abnormalities. In the majority of cases the cause is unknown. It often develops during adolescence, up to ten times more so in girls than boys, driven by rapid growth and the forces acting on the spine. It can also occur later in life in association with spinal degeneration or vertebral fracture.

Children and adolescents with scoliosis need to be monitored by an orthopeadic specialist as severe development can have a major impact on heart and lung health.

Many people have mild scoliosis which is not associated with pain or interference with normal function. Moderate to severe scoliosis can lead to pain as it places excessive loads on joints and soft tissues. Scoliosis is associated with poor local spinal and/or global body mechanical function involving several tissues including bone, cartilage, ligament, tendon and muscle. While the structural bone abnormalities cannot be reversed, soft tissue stiffness, pain and associated symptoms can be substantially improved. 

Detailed clinical biomechanical assessment is used to diagnose the nature of the dysfunction associated with scoliosis and indicates the most appropriate treatment. Often several Osteopathic techniques are applied to ease inflammation and/or pain by helping restore or improve:

• joint range of movement, nutrition and lubrication;
• soft tissue flexibility and strength;
• blood and lymphatic flow into and out of the spinal and rib joints and surrounding tissues;
• and nerve function.