Scoliosis Part 3

21 July 2019

In our final post of the 3 part series on scoliosis, I’m addressing osteopathic treatment options.

If your child does have an idiopathic scoliosis, then the main treatment progression is:

• Physical therapy
• Bracing
• Surgery

Only 5% will require surgery or bracing. Children are monitored with X rays, and most surgeons will consider surgery when the curve reaches between 45 and 50 degrees. Surgery itself consists of vertebral fusion and in some cases the fitment of rods to keep the spine straight. The outcomes are generally good.

 Health care providers measure scoliosis curves in degrees:

• A mild curve is less than 20 degrees.
• A moderate curve is between 25 degrees and 40 degrees.
• A severe curve is more than 50 degrees.

Bracing will not correct the curve but will stop the progression in 75% of children. The child where’s the brace at night.

While bracing stops the progression, the goal of physical therapy is to maintain flexibility and strength in the postural muscles.

Physical therapy includes manual mobilisation of the spinal joints, derotation exercises, breathing exercises, postural and flexibility exercises.

We run a back to school free screen in January in which we look at growth and posture before the school year begins. We are now introducing a free growth check in July for children aged 10-14. This means that twice a year your child is screened for scoliosis and other growth problems that happen during this period.