Scoliosis is relatively uncommon amongst young children. In most cases of scoliosis, the patient’s spinal curve doesn’t develop until adolescence, and so the majority of the people we treat here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic are at least old enough to be in secondary school.
However, that’s not to say we haven’t welcomed our share of younger patients to the Clinic – in fact, we’ve treated scoliosis in children as young as 4!
How does our treatment differ when the patient is a young child?
One of the most difficult things about treating scoliosis in young children is judging whether or not any treatment is even required. If the child is still growing, there is a chance that their spinal curve will straighten itself out over time; however, it’s also possible that the curve will progress (grow more severe), and this in turn can affect the development of other parts of the patient’s body, including vital internal organs.
For this reason, observation is absolutely crucial when treating a young scoliosis sufferer. It’s very important to know whether the curve is progressing, improving, or simply staying the same, as this will determine the most appropriate course of action. Best practice is to take regular X-rays and monitor the patient’s condition for a time before deciding what treatment – if any – is required.
The
treatment courses we deliver are somewhat different for younger patients, but the key principles remain the same: instead of correcting the spine’s curve using surgical methods or a scoliosis brace, we achieve huge improvements via an exercise-based treatment programme. Our
chartered physiotherapists use a range of therapeutic techniques (including those
listed here) to:
- Reduce the patient’s Cobb angle
- Improve posture and muscle strength
- Increase mobility
- Relieve pain
- Enhance the patient’s quality of life
Our ScolioGold courses are a popular choice amongst parents whose children suffer from scoliosis. Many young children have been brought to our clinic because their parents were understandably reluctant to wait and watch their child’s scoliosis get worse, or to put them in for surgery without first exhausting all possible alternatives. The treatment we offer is safe and demonstrably effective – again, we invite you to view
these before and after photos of some of our youngest scoliosis patients.
If you or your child suffer from scoliosis, please contact us today to arrange an initial consultation at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic and find out more about how we may be able to help.
