Scoliosis is an abnormal side-to-side curvature of your spine. Your spine (backbone) naturally has a slight forward and backward curve. With scoliosis, your spine curves to the left and right into a C or S shape.
Most cases of scoliosis are mild, don’t cause symptoms and don’t need treatment. Severe cases can cause uneven posture and pain. Treatment may include wearing a brace or surgery.
How is scoliosis treated
Treatment for scoliosis isn’t necessary for all cases. If your provider recommends treatment, they’ll consider several factors:
• The type of scoliosis
• The degree of the curve
• Your family history of scoliosis
• Your age
• The number of remaining growth years until skeletal maturity
Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and not necessarily straightening the curve. The goal is to decrease symptoms and curve progression and improve the function of your spine.
There are two types of treatment for scoliosis:
• Nonsurgical (conservative) treatment
• Surgery
Conservative scoliosis treatment
Most cases of scoliosis don’t require surgery. Instead, providers recommend conservative treatment first, which may include:
• Visiting a healthcare provider regularly (usually every six months) to monitor the degree of the curve
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatories (as needed or as directed by your provider)
• Exercising to strengthen your core muscles and improve flexibility
Wearing a back brace to support your spine
• Managing any underlying conditions
Your provider may recommend physical therapy. This can help you strengthen your muscles and relieve pain. Your physical therapist may help you with the following: • Improving your posture
• Low-impact exercises, such as swimming
• Daily stretching
• Physical activity guidance
Scoliosis surgery
Surgery may be an option to treat some types of scoliosis that don’t respond to conservative treatment.
Your provider may recommend surgery to:
• Stabilize your spine
• Restore balance
• Relieve pressure on nerves
There are different techniques your surgeon may use to treat scoliosis, including:
• Spinal fusion: To stabilize your spine, your surgeon will fuse the bones of your spine together. Then, they’ll use metal braces to hold your spine in place.
• Expandable rod: A surgeon will insert an expandable rod along the vertebrae to support a child’s growing spine. They’ll adjust the length of the rod as a child grows.
Advances in surgical techniques and computer-assisted technologies make less invasive approaches possible and recovery time quicker.
Are there complications of scoliosis surgery?
Scoliosis surgery is a safe procedure, but complications are possible and may include:
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Nerve damage
• Limited movement
What can I expect if I have scoliosis?
Though scoliosis is often asymptomatic, symptoms may appear as your body ages and natural spine degeneration occurs. A healthcare provider can help you manage symptoms if they become bothersome.
Scoliosis can change the way your body looks depending on the degree of the spinal curve. This might be challenging for your emotional well-being. A mental health professional can help you manage how you feel about your body.
What’s the outlook for scoliosis?
The outlook for scoliosis can vary depending on the type and severity. Most people can live normally, without any changes to their routines.
Can scoliosis be prevented?
There’s no known way to prevent scoliosis. If you have scoliosis, a healthcare provider might recommend strengthening your back and abdominal muscles with stretching and exercises. These can help prevent the curve in your spine from getting worse.
What physical activities are safe with scoliosis?
Talk to your healthcare provider or physical therapist about what activities are safe to do. Most people with scoliosis can participate in physical activities and exercise. Routine movement can reduce the severity of symptoms. If an activity causes pain, listen to your body and stop.
Can playing sports make scoliosis worse?
Most cases of scoliosis are diagnosed during adolescence. This is the time when many children are eager to jump into team sports and athletic programs. As a parent or caregiver, you might wonder what activities are safe for your child.
Luckily, playing sports won’t make scoliosis worse. In fact, participating in sports that promote flexibility and core strength can reduce your child’s symptoms.
Sports that can help scoliosis include:
• Swimming: It can increase core strength, as it requires your child to use all of their muscles at once.
• Gymnastics: It can boost your child’s flexibility and improve core strength.
