Do you have scoliosis?

A curve is more than one thing

Scoliosis is named when the spine curves sideways more than about ten degrees. The cause is often unknown. It commonly shows up in the growth years, and it can also show up later, when the spine is wearing down. Without a look at the curve, the posture around it, and how the person moves, it is hard to say what care is for. This is a guide to what we see. A visit is how we tell which one is yours.

How it shows up

One shoulder sitting higher, hips that look uneven, or a rib hump on a forward bend is often the first thing someone notices. That forward bend is the Adams test. If a curve is visible, an X-ray measures how far it goes. We take those films in the office, and we use them to track the curve over time.

Stiffness and the ache around it

A curve can be painless. It can also come with back pain, a pull through the shoulder, or a spine that feels stuck by the end of the day. Care here looks at movement and the structural pattern around the curve. It does not straighten the curve, and it does not claim to.

Curves in the growth years

Many curves are found between about age 10 and the teen years, while the body is still growing. For a growing child, bracing is the approach with the strongest evidence for keeping a moderate curve from getting worse, and that decision sits with the doctor watching the curve. Our exam measures and tracks. It does not replace that doctor.

Curves later in life

Curves also show up in adults, often alongside wear in the spine. The first job is the same: see the shape, see what hurts, and see whether the ache is coming from the curve, from something next to it, or from both.

When it needs another doctor

A large curve, a curve that is changing quickly, trouble breathing, or findings that do not fit a straightforward curve need a different doctor. Those need to be sorted out, not guessed at. The exam is how we tell whether chiropractic care is the right next step.

Measured, then tracked

A thorough exam lets us see what is going on. We take objective measures of structure and function, including on-site X-rays, and we use those measures to track progress. The exam covers a wide set of metrics, so plan 90 to 120 minutes for the initial visit.

Peter Lenhart, Director of Rehab, helps patients improve structure and function with specialized exercises and angular tractions. More on the approach is on the CBP page. Neck pain that travels with a curve is covered on the neck pain page.

Dr. Eberle's approach to chiropractic treatment is far more comprehensive than other offices I've been to and caters to long-term, full body health, while also paying attention to any acute concerns. My body is significantly healing and healthier after being in Dr. Eberle's care!Nicole

Questions about scoliosis