August 3, 2017

Does Scoliosis Get Worse Over Time?

erika Scoliosis & Other Back Problems

Does Scoliosis Get Worse Over Time?

Scoliosis is an excessive sideways curvature of the spine. There are a few different types of scoliosis, including:
  • Idiopathic – The most common form of scoliosis usually appears during adolescence. The cause is not known, although it is thought to be genetic.
  • Congenital – This form of scoliosis occurs from birth due to the baby’s bones not developing properly in the womb.
  • Degenerative – Degenerative scoliosis occurs with age and the deterioration of the vertebrae in the spine.

Will my scoliosis get worse over time?

Being diagnosed with any form of scoliosis is difficult, and it’s natural to wonder if your spinal curve will progress in the future. Unfortunately, the answer is very often yes – if scoliosis is left without treatment, it will usually get progressively worse over time unless the patient seeks treatment for their condition. Especially in younger patients whose bodies are still growing, it is very likely that – without intervention – the degree of the curvature will increase as time goes on. This is due to the asymmetrical loading of the vertebrae on one side limiting bone growth in this area. In these cases, bracing is usually recommended to stunt the progression of the curve; if necessary, spinal fusion surgery may be recommended once the patient has stopped growing.

Can scoliosis progress even in adulthood?

It is a common misconception that, as the patient reaches adulthood and their body stops growing, scoliosis cannot progress any further. This is untrue; while the change may occur at a slower pace in a mature adult than in a child or adolescent, a scoliosis curvature can still progress by one to three degrees per year.

Case Study: 60-Year Old Max

Max was diagnosed with scoliosis when he was a teenager but, unfortunately, no treatment was offered to him at that time! Max is now 60-years old and, as we might expect, his scoliosis has got progressively worse over the course of his life. He visited chiropractors & physiotherapists but found that they only relieved his pain temporarily. ScolioGold Therapy has helped him make incredible progress & much of his scoliosis has now been completely cured! Watch our full interview with Max here:

What can I do to stop scoliosis getting worse over time?

Luckily, mild to moderate cases of scoliosis do not typically require surgical intervention. If the right steps are taken before the curve progresses too far, it is possible to improve the degree of curvature and your quality of life without undergoing an operation. The progression of a scoliotic spinal curve can be halted via a number of measures, such as:
  • Soft and hard bracing
  • Postural improvement
  • Physical therapy to improve muscle balance
Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic in London, our ambition is to help those suffering with scoliosis to improve their condition over time. We aim to reduce the degree of the curvature, reduce pain, improve flexibility, and boost the patient’s overall quality of life. We do this through a combination of different physical therapy treatments on our 4-week ScolioGold courses. Contact Scoliosis SOS to book a consultation with one of our scoliosis experts.

Get in Touch >

July 28, 2017

Spinal Stenosis & Scoliosis

erika Scoliosis & Other Back Problems
Here on the Scoliosis SOS blog, we’ve discussed a number of conditions that can lead to a curvature of the spine – conditions such as osteoporosis and spondylolisthesis. But just as scoliosis can arise as the result of a larger, underlying health problem, there are also a number of conditions that sometimes occur as the result of scoliosis. Today, we’d like to take a closer look at one such condition: spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal.

What is spinal stenosis?

As you probably know, the human spine (more properly known as the ‘vertebral column’) is made up of a number of small bones called vertebrae. Each individual vertebra has a hole in the middle of it, meaning that the vertebral column is effectively a long tube of bone. Housed inside this tube is the spinal cord, a long bundle of nerves that runs from your brain stem to the lumbar (lower) section of your spine. The spinal cord carries information about the different parts of your body to and from the brain, and it is, therefore, crucial for all sorts of day-to-day bodily functions. The space where the spinal cord resides is called the spinal canal. If your spinal canal becomes narrower for some reason, you are said to have spinal stenosis (‘stenosis’ being a Greek word that literally means ‘narrowing’). Spinal stenosis can affect any region of the spine, although it most commonly occurs in the lumbar region.

Spinal Stenosis

Image source: Blausen Medical via Wikimedia Commons

Spinal stenosis may result in one or more vertebrae pressing against the nerves of the spinal cord, which in turn may lead to a number of different symptoms.

Symptoms of spinal stenosis

If your spinal cord is being compressed due to spinal stenosis, you may experience pain, discomfort, numbness and/or weakness in various different parts of your body (including the back, shoulders, arms, hands, legs and buttocks). Depending on where the stenosis is and which part of your spinal cord is impacted, you may also experience a loss of bladder/bowel control. In particularly extreme cases of spinal stenosis, the patient may find that symptoms progress until certain parts of the body are completely paralysed. All of these symptoms occur because the inside of the vertebral column is pressing on the patient’s nerves and interfering with the bodily functions associated with that part of the spinal cord.

What causes spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis can occur for all sorts of different reasons, the most common being:
  • Ageing – Changes/deteriorations in the spine as you get older may result in a narrowing of the spinal canal
  • Genetic defects – In some cases, a baby may be born with a narrow spinal canal (or with a genetic deformity that affects the structure of the spine)
  • Tumours – If you have an abnormal growth on the inside of your spine, these may press against your spinal cord
  • Injuries – Certain accidents/traumas may impact the spine and result in spinal stenosis
Scoliosis can also result in spinal stenosis, with the deterioration and curving/twisting of the spine sometimes putting pressure on the spinal cord itself. If you have a curved spine and you are experiencing numbness or any of the other symptoms mentioned above, it may well be because your curved spine is putting pressure on your nerves and interrupting the transmission of information between your brain and the rest of your body. Click below to learn about the Scoliosis SOS Clinic and our non-surgical scoliosis treatment methods, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook for more spinal health information.

Our Scoliosis Treatment Courses >

 

For more information on how our non-surgical scoliosis treatment can help your condition of spinal stenosis, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team today.

July 26, 2017

Severe Scoliosis Treatment with Scoliosis SOS

erika Scoliosis & Other Back Problems
For individuals with severe scoliosis, life can be very difficult indeed. Patients with a pronounced spinal curve may suffer from any number of symptoms, including chronic pain, limited mobility, and a low body image. In especially extreme cases, the curvature of the spine may cause serious problems with the patient’s lungs, limiting their ability to breathe – but every spinal curve is different, and the symptoms vary massively from one case to the next. The phrase ‘severe scoliosis’ usually refers to a case of scoliosis that has progressed to the point at which spinal fusion surgery is typically recommended. This is usually around 40-50 degrees, depending on your age and where in the world you live. In most cases, spinal curves this severe continue to worsen, and that is why spinal fusion is often recommended. In the vast majority of cases, severe scoliosis will drastically affect the posture and physical appearance of the patient, and surgery can be effective in reversing these changes to a certain extent. However, spinal fusion surgery is not always successful, and can pose some risks of its own.

What other treatment options are available?

While the procedure is relatively safe and successful in the majority of cases, many people are put off spinal surgery due to the risks involved. If you’d rather not undergo spinal fusion surgery to correct your severe scoliosis, your options are somewhat limited; bracing can be effective way to stop scoliosis progressing further, but a back brace cannot reverse the curvature that has already developed and is only used in patients who are still growing. But it’s not all bad news! We at Scoliosis SOS are able to treat severe scoliosis in patients of all ages without surgery and without the use of a brace. Our therapists treat scoliosis patients using a unique combination of non-surgical spinal techniques that we collectively call the ScolioGold method. Our treatment programme can help reduce your Cobb angle, provide pain relief, and help improve body image, boosting your sense of self-esteem. We have frequently treated patients with Cobb angles of 50 degrees or more – in fact, we have even helped patients with curves of up to 120 degrees!
Severe Scoliosis Before and After Treatment

A patient with severe scoliosis before (left) and after (right) ScolioGold treatment.

If you’d like to find out more about our ScolioGold method, click here. If you’d like to arrange an initial consultation, please contact us today. Further Reading: Coping with Severe Scoliosis
July 17, 2017

What is Thoracic Hyperkyphosis?

erika Scoliosis & Other Back Problems
Thoracic hyperkyphosis
 
Thoracic hyperkyphosis is a condition where the thoracic (upper) spine curves forward, resulting in a slouched or hunched appearance. It can affect people of all ages for a variety of different reasons.
 
While most people have some level of curvature in the upper spine, a person is said to have hyperkyphosis if the angle of their curve exceeds 45 degrees. Common symptoms of thoracic hyperkyphosis include:
  • Back pain
  • Stiffness
  • The top part of the back looking curved or hunched over
Every case is different, but many thoracic hyperkyphosis patients also report feeling fatigued as a result of their condition. Furthermore, the visible effects of hyperkyphosis sometimes contribute to low self-esteem, a negative body image, and emotional and social issues.

What causes thoracic hyperkyphosis?

As mentioned above, thoracic hyperkyphosis can arise for a number of different reasons. The most common causes include:
  • Bad posture – If you frequently slouch or otherwise fail to sit properly in chairs, your poor posture may end up causing hyperkyphosis over time.
  • Scheuermann’s disease – Scheuermann’s is a condition (mostly affecting young people) that occurs when the vertebrae don’t grow evenly. This can result in a hyperkyphotic spinal curve. Read more about Scheuermann’s disease here.
  • Congenital issues – Sometimes, a baby’s spine will develop incorrectly in the womb. This may result in the child being born with hyperkyphosis, with the condition progressing (getting worse) as they grow up.
Thoracic hyperkyphosis may also be caused by nutritional deficiencies, vertebral trauma, and a number of other problems.

How to treat thoracic hyperkyphosis

Just as hyperkyphosis has many different causes, it can also be treated in many different ways, including:
  • Bracing
  • Physical therapy
  • Spinal surgery
Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, we frequently treat thoracic hyperkyphosis patients who wish to reduce the angle and visibility of their curve and alleviate symptoms such as pain and stiffness. We do this using our ScolioGold method, an exercise-based alternative to surgical intervention that has repeatedly shown itself to be effective in cases of a spinal curvature.
 
For more information on hyperkyphosis, watch our video here:
 
 
 Learn more about ScolioGold therapy below or get in touch to arrange a consultation with Scoliosis SOS.
 
July 10, 2017

Posture Improvement at Scoliosis SOS

erika Scoliosis & Other Back Problems
Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, we specialise in the non-surgical treatment of spinal conditions such as scoliosis and hyperkyphosis. Our approach combines a variety of different methods, including various types of exercise, physical manipulation and more.
For sufferers of scoliosis and other spinal conditions, uneven posture can be a persistent problem, causing pain and discomfort as well as impacting the individual’s outward appearance. For this reason, postural correction is one of the goals we work towards during our ScolioGold treatment courses, the aim being to produce lasting posture improvement for the patient. 

How do we achieve posture improvement for our patients?

Successful posture improvement is achieved by tailoring treatment to the specific needs of the patient, depending on their individual condition and the symptoms they experience.
While scoliosis (a sideways curvature of the spine) can lead to postural problems, the idea that scoliosis is caused by bad posture is a common misconception. There is no evidence to suggest that poor posture can lead to the development of scoliosis, which sometimes arises because of an underlying neuromuscular/skeletal condition but which is idiopathic in the majority of cases. In contrast, hyperkyphosis (a forward curvature of the spine) can be caused by poor posture, with an estimated 20-40% of adults developing this deformity at some point in their life.
Since we treat different types of spinal curvature in patients of all ages and backgrounds, it is highly important for us to ensure that our treatments target the specific areas in need of improvement. We do this by using a selection of carefully-chosen corrective methods while also accounting for the impact and limitations caused by other aspects of the patient’s condition. In addition, each patient is also provided with an exercise programme to perform at home in order to ensure lasting results.

What methods are used?

Here are some of the posture improvement methods we use here at Scoliosis SOS:
FITS Method

FITS Method

This programme of individually-adjusted exercises is used to eliminate myofascial restrictions and build a series of new, corrective posture patterns.
Taping
This technique is used to promote correct muscle movement patterns while also reducing pain and inflammation. The tape, which has been worn by such famous athletes as Serena Williams and Gareth Bale, works by acting as an elastic reminder for postural control.
 
Medical Acupuncture
This treatment involves the insertion of very fine needles into points of the body to reduce pain, improve blood flow and promote healing. Acupuncture is used to target pain caused by muscular imbalances and postural asymmetry. 
Looking for more information about posture improvement methods? Here are some exercises to try at home.
Contact Scoliosis SOS for more information about our treatment courses.

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