How Is Scoliosis Diagnosed?

Scoliosis is an abnormal curve of the spine. A healthy spine is supposed to have a natural front-to-back curve. But in scoliosis, the spine also curves sideways, often in an “S” or “C” shape. If you think that you or your child may have scoliosis, you may be wondering how this condition is typically diagnosed. In this blog from Vidan Family Chiropractic, we’ll discuss everything you need to know.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Scoliosis?

There are a variety of different ways that scoliosis may be diagnosed by a doctor, and here are a few of the most common techniques.

• Visual examination – More severe cases of scoliosis may be recognizable with a visual examination. Your doctor will look for things like one shoulder being raised higher than the other, one hip appearing lower than the other, uneven or prominent shoulder blades, and other such visual indicators of scoliosis.
• Adams Forward Bend Test – In this test, a person puts their hands together and bends down while keeping their knees straight. This makes the spine show more clearly through the skin, and makes it easier to see unevenness in the hips and shoulders. The doctor may also use a “scoliometer” to measure the degree of spinal curvature.
• X-ray imaging – Once scoliosis has been confirmed, x-rays are usually used to get deeper insights into the degree of spinal curvature, and determine which form of scoliosis may be present.

Understanding The Three Different Forms Of Scoliosis

Not all types of scoliosis are the same. Depending on the curvature of the spine, scoliosis is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Mild scoliosis is the least serious form, and is present when the spinal curve measures between 10 and 25 degrees.

Moderate scoliosis includes spines with a curvature between 25 and 45 degrees. In kids, back braces are usually used to treat moderate scoliosis. The most serious type of scoliosis is called severe scoliosis. In this type of scoliosis, spine surgery is usually necessary to correct the spinal curvature.

Options For Treating Scoliosis

There are lots of different options for treating scoliosis, and they may vary based on your age, the severity of your scoliosis, and a variety of other factors. Back braces are often used to treat young kids and teens. Back braces help correct the curvature of the spine as kids grow and mature.

Physical therapy is often recommended for patients with scoliosis, too. With physical therapy, you can stretch and strengthen the back muscles, improve your body mechanics, and stabilize and support your spine.

Chiropractic treatment is also an option for most patients. At Vidan Family Chiropractic, we use a variety of treatment methodologies to help with pain and the other symptoms of scoliosis. Along with physical therapy, chiropractic treatment for scoliosis in St. Louis is an effective way to help improve your overall quality of life.

Get Relief From Scoliosis In St. Louis – Come To Vidan Family Chiropractic Today!

At Vidan Family Chiropractic, Dr. Alex Vidan and our team of chiropractic experts can provide the guidance and treatment you need to fight back against the symptoms of scoliosis, eliminate your pain, and get back to your active lifestyle. So don’t wait. Contact us online or call our team today at (314) 210-6556 to learn more about your options for chiropractic scoliosis treatment in St. Louis.