Episode 46: Can You Fix Scoliosis?

The truth of the matter is, scoliosis is an incurable condition because of the fact that we don't know what actually causes scoliosis, and therefore it can't ever be cured. However, scoliosis can be truly managed effectively using multiple forms of treatment, depending on which approach you're choosing to use.

There are two main categories in treating scoliosis.

Traditional Approach

Scoliosis treatment using the traditional approach will depend mainly on the size of the curve.

• Mild – curve of 25 degrees or less. There is no treatment done. You just have to wait and see what happens, normally referred to as Watch and Wait.
• Moderate – more than 25 degrees but less than 40. General treatment would include a term called bracing.

There are two types of bracing mainly:

• • Boston brace is used full-time (day and night)
  • Providence brace is used only at night

Both types are not designed to reduce the curve to make the curve straighter or make the curve more functional but merely an attempt to slow the progression.

• Severe - 40 degrees and up. Invasive surgery is usually recommended.

It is interesting to note that in the traditional approach, there is that 15 degrees window between mild, where nothing much is done to 40 degrees wherein surgery is usually what is recommended. Wouldn't it make sense to treat curves that are smaller more aggressively so that it wouldn't actually ever become a 40-degree curve? This is not typically done in the traditional approach.

Functional or Natural Approach

Consist of exercise, therapy, and rehabilitation. It can even consist of bracing and chiropractic care and physical therapy. There could be lots of things that you can do to actually do something that's more functional.
This type of treatment does not fix the curve but manages and reduces it to try to maintain the function of the spine so it can do what it was designed to do within the body.

The problem with the functional approach is that patients see all these different doctors and therapists and nobody is really working together to deliver an approach that's additive where every step is adding to the next deliberate result.

The Scoliosis Reduction Center is not only promoting the functional or natural approach but is advocating what is called the patient-centered approach wherein it is focusing on what the patient needs first, not what's the easiest thing to do or the easiest way out.

For more information about this, please check Dr. Tony Nalda's podcast.

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