September 14, 2017

Scoliosis in Babies: Infantile & Congenital Scoliosis

erika Scoliosis & Other Back Problems
Scoliosis is fairly rare amongst babies and young children, as in most cases the spinal curve doesn’t develop until adolescence. However, that’s doesn’t mean that babies are never affected.

Scoliosis in Babies

Broadly speaking, there are two types of scoliosis in babies: infantile scoliosis and congenital scoliosis. Today, we’re going to explain the differences and similarities between each condition, and how they can be treated.

What is congenital scoliosis?

Congenital scoliosis is a type of scoliosis that is present from birth. It is caused by irregular development of the spine while the baby is still in the womb. It occurs because one or more vertebrae didn’t form properly, or if multiple vertebrae are joined together. The symptoms of congenital scoliosis are just the same as any other form of scoliosis: uneven hips and/or shoulders; rib cage more prominent on one side than the other; a visible lean to one side. But these symptoms may be harder to identify in a very young child. Every person experiences scoliosis differently, whether you’re born with the spinal condition or develop a curve later in life. Some sufferers may experience pain, respiratory problems, and/or reduced mobility, but none of these symptoms are guaranteed. In some cases of congenital scoliosis, where the condition is linked to a problem with the spinal cord, the patient may also experience reduced coordination, reduced strength, and numbness, but again these symptoms vary from person to person. Read more about congenital scoliosis >

What is infantile scoliosis?

Infantile scoliosis is a sideways spinal curve that is diagnosed between 0 and 3 years of age. Unlike congenital scoliosis, infantile isn’t present at birth; rather, it develops early in the child’s life. Infantile scoliosis affects more baby boys than girls, and the exact cause of infantile scoliosis is unknown. Some have suggested that the spine is slightly bent at the time of birth and simply worsens with growth. The spinal curve typically appears between the shoulder blades or in the thoracic (upper) region of the spine, and the spine tends to curve to the left more often than it curves to the right. The diagnosis of infantile scoliosis is based on the age of onset, the location of the curve, findings from the physical examination, and x-rays. The symptoms of infantile scoliosis are very similar to those of congenital scoliosis, and again, their severity varies from one patient to the next.

Treating infantile and congenital scoliosis

In cases of scoliosis where the patient is still very young, doctors usually recommend monitoring/observing their condition to see whether the spinal curve will correct itself over time. Later on, if the curve has not corrected itself and is in fact worsening, the patient may be recommended to wear a back brace to stop the curve from progressing. In severe cases, they also may have to undergo spinal fusion surgery. Like most forms of the condition, infantile and congenital scoliosis can be effectively treated via exercise-based physiotherapy, which is what we offer here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic. We have treated plenty of young children, and have seen some excellent results! If you would like to find out more about our non-surgical scoliosis treatment courses and how they can benefit babies with scoliosis, please call Scoliosis SOS on 0207 488 4428 or click here to book an initial consultation.
September 7, 2017

Hyperkyphosis Brace: How Does it Work?

erika Scoliosis & Other Back Problems
Hyperkyphosis is a spinal disorder which refers to the excessive forward curvature of the upper back. Hyperkyphosis is usually diagnosed once the curvature reaches over 50 degrees; prior to that, it is just known as kyphosis and does not typically require treatment.  

What is a hyperkyphosis brace? 

A hyperkyphosis brace is a form of treatment to rectify a spinal curvature in adolescents. These braces are not usually recommended for adults as the spine stops growing once adulthood is reached and it would not provide any benefits. The brace is used to help straighten the spine and help strengthen the back. A hyperkyphosis brace usually straightens the spine, pulls the shoulders back and allows the chin to sit upright.

Kyphosis Brace

The hyperkyphosis brace also takes the pressure off the spine and encourages it to grow in a more upright position. Every spine typically has a slight amount of curvature, but as hyperkyphosis can cause health issues bracing is required to avoid these further complications.  

When is a hyperkyphosis brace needed? 

Once the degree of the curvature surpasses 50 degrees a Hyperkyphosis brace may be needed. Hyperkyphosis can occur at any age and can even occur before birth. This is known as congenital kyphosis and means several vertebra fuse together or the spinal bones do not form properly. In this case, treatment such as using a hyperkyphosis brace is needed from a very young age. Scheuermann’s and bad posture are also causes of this condition. If these forms of hyperkyphosis develop before adulthood, hyperkyphosis braces can be used to stunt the progression of the spinal curve.  

How long do you have to wear a hyperkyphosis brace?

Depending on the severity of the case, you may be required to wear a hyperkyphosis brace for the most part of every day. If worn from a young age, it may be possible to stop wearing the brace once your spine has stopped growing. This is typically around the age of 16-18 for girls and 18-20 for boys. If the curvature is mild, a hyperkyphosis brace may need to be worn for less time but this should be discussed with your doctor beforehand. Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, we help patients with all different types of spinal disorders, from scoliosis to hyperkyphosis. Our treatment course provides patients with a non-surgical alternative and allows the spine to improve through physical therapy. You can take a look at the results of our ScolioGold course here. If you’re interested in a non-surgical alternative for your hyperkyphosis, you can book an initial consultation with us today. We look forward to hearing from you.
August 28, 2017

Muscular Imbalance: Why Does Scoliosis Create One Weak Side?

erika Scoliosis & Other Back Problems
 

The condition known as scoliosis can have many effects on the human body, one of which is muscular imbalance. The back muscles located either side of the spine can be heavily impacted by a sideways curvature, and in many cases, the patient will find that the muscles on one side are weaker than those on the other side.

 

Why does this happen?

Scoliosis sufferers often have one weak side because the muscles on that side of the body are underused. Conversely, the muscles on the other side will be overused because they are having to work harder to make up for the curve. Both underuse and overuse can be problematic.
 
 
The spine in the image above curves to the left. This forces the muscles on the left side of the body to work harder (potentially causing them to become stretched and overused), while the muscles on the right side will gradually grow smaller, tighter and weaker from underuse.
 

The effects of muscular imbalance

So is it really a problem when one side is weaker than the other? Well, yes it is – for one thing, the imbalance can result in a great deal of pain and discomfort, as some muscles are overworked while others begin to atrophy.
 
Muscular imbalance can also create significant issues for scoliosis sufferers who participate in sports and other physical activities. The imbalance (together with the reduced mobility that is another common symptom of scoliosis) may prevent the patient from performing to the best of their abilities.
 

Treating the imbalance

Many scoliosis treatment methods focus primarily on reducing the patient’s Cobb angle, and while this is key, it’s also important to treat the effects of scoliosis, such as muscle imbalance. A well-rounded treatment programme should include physical therapy to help the scoliosis sufferer achieve a better muscular balance, as this will, in turn, reduce pain/discomfort and enable the patient to move more easily while enjoying a better quality of life in general.

Case Study: Pain in right side

This patient came to us after experiencing pain and asymmetry while working out in the gym. She was having pains down the right side of her body and, when she came to the Scoliosis SOS clinic we were able to detect that her pain was being caused by a spinal muscle imbalance. After only 2-weeks of treatment, her pain completely disappeared!

See the full interview here:

 
The Scoliosis SOS Clinic’s ScolioGold treatment method is geared towards treating every aspect of scoliosis. We use a wide variety of non-surgical techniques to reduce the patient’s spinal curvature and improve their overall quality of life.
 
August 24, 2017

Scoliosis in Males

erika Scoliosis & Other Back Problems
Scoliosis in Males
It’s a well-known fact that scoliosis is significantly more common in females than in males. It is not entirely clear why this should be the case, but the numbers are very clear: from age 10 onwards, female scoliosis sufferers outnumber male scoliotics 6 to 1. (Interestingly, it also appears that scoliosis is a lot more likely to be severe in female patients.) This gender imbalance is reflected in the demographics of the people we treat here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic. If you take a look at our Patient Experiences page – where you can watch interviews with numerous Scoliosis SOS patients past and present – you’ll notice that the vast majority of the people sharing their stories in those videos are female.

Men and boys are affected by scoliosis too!

However, to assume that scoliosis only affects women and girls would be a misconception. Scoliosis in males is far from a freak occurrence – remember, this condition can be found in hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and even if you only counted male scoliosis sufferers, your total would still fall somewhere between the entire population of Australia and the entire population of Canada. Indeed, we have treated many men and boys here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, and our exercise-based ScolioGold programme has proven that it is an effective alternative to spinal fusion surgery regardless of the patient’s sex.

Case study: Jamie Kaye

Jamie Kaye is a boy from London who came to us as a teenager when he was studying at the famous BRIT performing arts school in Croydon. He had been diagnosed with scoliosis several years prior – when we met him, he had a Cobb angle of around 48 degrees, but he was not yet able to go in for surgery because he was still growing (not that he was particularly keen to have surgery anyway!). Jamie’s spinal curvature was having an adverse effect on his studies. While performing, he frequently found that his teachers would comment on his poor posture, but because of his condition he was finding it difficult to correct. He was also experiencing back pain as a result of his scoliosis. Watch the video below to find out how Jamie was helped by the non-surgical treatment techniques that we use here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic:
If you or a loved one suffer from scoliosis, please contact Scoliosis SOS today to arrange an initial consultation.
August 15, 2017

Syringomyelia & Scoliosis

erika Scoliosis & Other Back Problems

Syringomyelia

While the Scoliosis SOS Clinic specialises in the study and treatment of curvatures of the spine (primarily scoliosis and hyperkyphosis), we also possess a wealth of knowledge relating to many health problems that are closely linked to these spinal conditions. One such condition is syringomyelia, a chronic illness that causes a fluid-filled cavity or cyst to form within the spinal cord. In this post, we will discuss syringomyelia in greater detail, looking at the symptoms and exploring its connection with scoliosis.

What is syringomyelia?

Syringomyelia occurs when a syrinx (cyst) forms within the spinal cord, expanding over time and disrupting the surrounding tissue. In the majority of cases, the condition is linked to a brain abnormality called a Chiari malformation. In other cases, syringomyelia can also be caused by meningitis, tumours, and physical trauma; it can also be idiopathic (having no underlying cause, like most cases of scoliosis itself). The condition usually takes one of three forms:
  • Congenital – In these cases, the syringomyelia is linked to an abnormality of the craniovertebral junction (e.g. a Chiari malformation).
  • Secondary – Refers to cases with no obvious cause, or those that occur due to specific known causes which have damaged the spinal cord.
  • Post-traumatic – This is used to categorise cases which result from trauma to the spinal cord.

What are the symptoms of syringomyelia?

While symptoms and their severity can vary greatly from patient to patient, some common symptoms include:
  • Pain in the back/neck/shoulders, as well as some pain or tingling in the arms and hands.
  • Muscle weakness and wasting, particularly in the arms/hands/shoulders.
  • Numbness/loss of sensation in the fingers/arms/upper chest.
  • Pain and stiffness in the legs.
  • Uncoordinated movements and involuntary muscle contractions.
  • Abnormal sideways curvature of the spine (scoliosis).

How is syringomyelia linked to scoliosis?

As mentioned above, scoliosis most often presents itself without an underlying cause. However, many cases of scoliosis arise as a result of syringomyelia – this is especially common in younger patients (syringomyelia sufferers under the age of 16 are far more likely to have scoliosis than those who develop symptoms later in life). In terms of treatment, it is considered important to treat the syringomyelia before addressing the patient’s scoliosis, as this allows improvement of the syrinx to be properly assessed. Here at Scoliosis SOS, our treatment approach is carefully considered in order to ensure that all aspects of the individual’s condition are addressed. This means that our treatment courses can be specifically tailored to the needs and constraints of the patient in order to achieve the best results. Take a look at this video case study to find out how our treatment programme helped Grace, a 15-year-old syringomyelia patient from Essex:
If you are a syringomyelia sufferer, or a former syringomyelia patient who has received treatment but is still struggling with scoliosis, please get in touch with Scoliosis SOS today. Or for any other questions you may have about anything scoliosis related, Call us on 0207 488 4428 or fill in our contact form to request an initial consultation.

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