Sarasota Area Scoliosis Treatment: Non-Surgical Solutions

Scoliosis treatment is always beneficial; as a progressive condition, the nature of scoliosis is to get worse over time, so treatment has to work towards counteracting that tendency. From the time of diagnosis, the most important decision is the type of treatment to commit to; continue reading to learn about the different scoliosis treatment options available.

A 2.5-hour drive from Sarasota fl to Orlando can mean accessing one of the nation's leading non-surgical scoliosis treatment centers: Dr. Tony Nalda's Scoliosis Reduction Center®. The Center is known for its innovative approach to non-surgical correction of scoliosis in patients of every age.

Diagnosing scoliosis means an unnatural spinal curve that bends to the side and rotates has developed, so let's start with the difference between a natural and unnatural curvature of the spine.

Healthy Spinal Curves

In a healthy spine, its curves will be in place and its vertebrae aligned (stacked on top of one another in a straight and neutral alignment).

If a healthy spine is viewed from the front or back, it will appear straight, but when viewed from the sides, it will take on a soft 'S' shape, and this is because of the spine's natural and healthy curves at each of the spine's main sections: cervical (neck), thoracic (middle/upper back), and the lumbar spine (lower back).

The spine's healthy curves make it stronger, more flexible, and better able to handle mechanical stress during movement, so considering those roles, what happens when the spine develops one or more unhealthy curves?

There are different healthy curve sizes, and as long as a person's degree of curve falls within a normal range, it's considered a healthy curve, but if a curve is excessive or under-pronounced, it can become problematic and disrupt the biomechanics of the entire spine.

With current estimates at close to seven million people living with the condition in the United States alone, and the fact that it's the most common spinal condition among school-aged children, awareness is needed as it can mean recognizing the condition's early signs for early detection and intervention.

Scoliosis causes the spine to develop an unnatural sideways-bending curve that also rotates, making it a 3-dimensional condition that can be particularly complex to treat.

A Scoliotic Spine

A scoliotic spine has lost a healthy curve and replaced it with an unhealthy curvature of the spine.

Scoliosis is a highly-variable condition with no two cases the same; it ranges in severity from mild scoliosis to moderate and severe to very severe cases.

The more severe a condition is, the larger the size of the curve is, the more rotation there is, and the more noticeable a condition's effects are likely to be.

A scoliotic spine is going to be weaker and more vulnerable to injury, and although not commonly painful for children, once scoliosis becomes compressive (when skeletal maturity is reached), it can cause varying levels of back and muscle pain.

A scoliotic spine is introducing a lot of uneven forces not just to the spine and its surrounding muscles and nerves, but also the entire body.

A scoliotic spine can disrupt the body's overall symmetry and cause a number of widespread effects.

For those willing to drive 2.5 hours from Sarasota fl to Orlando, Florida, Sarasota area scoliosis treatment can include the innovative Scoliosis Reduction Center®.

What Happens to Untreated Scoliosis?

Untreated scoliosis is virtually guaranteed to get worse over time because scoliosis is a progressive condition; its nature is to become more severe.

Scoliosis progressing means the size and rotation of the unnatural spinal curve is increasing, as are the condition's uneven forces, and their effects.

If left untreated, or not treated proactively, complications can develop such as digestive issues and breathing problems, but when addressed proactively, scoliosis can be highly treatable.

If left untreated, the risk is that a scoliotic curve is being left to progress unimpeded, and as progression is triggered by growth, childhood scoliosis can progress quickly and should always be taken seriously.

All severity levels and types of scoliosis can benefit from treatment, and scoliosis ranges in severity from mild scoliosis to moderate, severe and very severe scoliosis.

An abnormal curvature of the spine that's structural, as is the case with scoliosis, will not simply go away on its own; some cases might not progress, or might not progress quickly, but the curve won't reverse itself once it's established.

Progression and Treatment

The longer scoliosis is left untreated, the more it's likely to progress and the more severe it's likely to become.

As a progressive condition, even if a patient's scoliosis is diagnosed as mild, it's unlikely to stay that way, particularly in children who are still growing and facing the constant progressive trigger of growth.

The more a patient's scoliosis progresses, the more difficult it will be to treat, and the more overt the condition's effects will be.

As the curve size increases, the spine gets increasingly rigid, and this can make the spine less responsive to treatment, along with making it difficult for some patients to perform key therapeutic exercises as part of treatment.

Postural changes like uneven shoulders and hips are the main symptoms of childhood scoliosis, and these changes become more difficult to reverse once they've been established.

As a progressive condition, the best time to start treatment is always now.

If scoliosis is left untreated, or isn't treated proactively, surgical treatment can be necessary in the future, and this is something I want to help patients avoid.

Non-Surgical Scoliosis Treatment

The benefit of non-surgical scoliosis treatment is that it works towards preserving as much of the spine's natural strength and function as possible; spinal fusion surgery makes the spine weaker, more vulnerable to injury, and can cost the spine in terms of its flexibility and range of motion.

A conservative approach is modern and represents the culmination of what we've learned about scoliosis and treatment efficacy over the years.

By integrating multiple different scoliosis specific treatment choices into a treatment plan, they can be adjusted accordingly based on how the spine is responding to treatment and growth (childhood scoliosis).

Conservative treatment marries chiropractic medicine with physical therapy, scoliosis exercises, scoliosis bracing, and rehabilitation.

In severe cases, stopping further curvature progression can be difficult, and while some cases can benefit from surgical treatment, the reality is that many cases of scoliosis don't need surgical intervention, particularly with early detection and intervention.

Chiropractic care can work towards adjusting the position of the curve's most-tilted vertebrae back into alignment with the rest of the spine.

Physical therapies and scoliosis exercises can help strengthen and balance the spine's surrounding muscles so they can optimally support and stabilize the spine, can prepare the spine for treatment, and help poor posture.

Corrective bracing is more effective on growing spines, so when it comes to addressing scoliosis in children, bracing is a common facet of a conservative treatment.

Rehabilitation is about holding treatment results for sustainable long-term spinal health, and this can involve continued chiropractic care and the prescription of a series of custom-prescribed home exercises so patients can further heal and stabilize their spines from home.

Conclusion

There are never treatment guarantees, but for those looking for Sarasota area scoliosis treatment, Dr. Tony's treatment center has earned its reputation as a leader in innovative non-surgical scoliosis treatment.

When it comes to finding the best treatment solution, patients need to be informed and be aware of all treatment options available to them.

When it comes to a surgical treatment response, a spine can be straightened by being fused and held in position with metal rods, but this approach is contrary to the spine's natural movement-based design, and can cost the spine in strength and flexibility.

When diagnosed early and treated proactively, there are fewer limits to what can be achieved, and when it comes to adolescents going through puberty who are recently diagnosed, this age group is the most in need of treatment because they are the most at risk for rapid progression.

For adults needing pain relief, conservative treatment is addressing the structural nature of the condition, first and foremost, so it can impact the condition's effects by addressing their underlying cause: the structural spinal condition itself.

Scoliosis is diagnosed through a physical examination and x-ray results, and there are a number of benefits associated with a proactive non-surgical treatment response that combines the knowledge and experience of a chiropractor and a physical therapist so conditions can be impacted on multiple levels.

If you are in the Sarasota, Fl, area and are in need of support and/or treatment, don't hesitate to reach out to schedule a consultation; it can be the first step to treatment success and making improvements to overall quality of life.