Help for Scoliosis

June is Scoliosis Awareness Month, a time for patients and their friends and family to learn more about this spinal condition. One of the best things you can do during Scoliosis Awareness Month is to visit the doctor to have lingering back pain symptoms checked out. It’s possible that you have undiagnosed spinal curvature problems. Failure to seek help for scoliosis could lead to unwanted side effects, which you can prevent by seeking treatment today.

Facts About Scoliosis

  • About 3 percent of the US population is diagnosed with scoliosis, meaning it affects about 9 million people across the country.
  • Scoliosis is the most commonly diagnosed spinal deformity.
  • The most widespread form of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis, meaning it has no definitive cause.
  • Most scoliosis patients begin to notice symptoms of the disease between ages 10 and 15. However, it’s also possible to develop this spinal condition as an infant or in adulthood.
  • Males and females are both diagnosed with scoliosis. However, spinal curves are more likely to progress in women and girls to the point of needing bracing or surgical help for scoliosis.
  • Scoliosis treatment has advanced significantly in recent years with more effective techniques now available to correct spinal curve problems.

Scoliosis Screenings & Diagnosis

Adam’s Forward Bend TestIt’s important to seek help for scoliosis as soon as possible to avoid potential side effects, including chronic pain, nerve damage, muscle weakness, restricted movement, and spinal injuries. That’s why parents should have their children screened for scoliosis as part of their annual physical exam at the doctor’s office.

A simple test to check for spinal abnormalities is to have a child bend forward at the waist with their knees straight and their arms hanging down toward the floor. Known as the Adam’s Forward Bend Test, this position allows healthcare professionals to check for side-to-side asymmetry, humps around the rib cage, uneven shoulders, or protruding hips. If the physician spots signs of an abnormal spinal curve, X-rays or MRI scans can help assess the degree of the curve.

Scoliosis Treatment Options

While you may eventually need to consider surgery, this isn’t the only way to get help for scoliosis. Indeed, non-invasive therapies are often just as effective as surgery. Consider the scoliosis treatment options available at Spine Correction Center of the Rockies.

Standard Scoliosis Treatment

If you live within driving distance of Fort Collins, Colorado, we recommend our standard scoliosis treatment plan, a non-surgical, non-bracing way to receive help for scoliosis. This option involves 30-minute to two-hour treatments spread over three to four months.

Most of our patients don’t require bracing. Instead, we focus on realigning the spine with the following protocols:

Intensive Scoliosis Treatment

Our intensive scoliosis treatment plan has the same goal as our standard plan—to stabilize your spine and reduce your symptoms naturally. The difference lies in the length of time our patients undergo treatment.

As a top Scoliosis Treatment Center in the United States, people come from all over the country and even around the world to receive treatment at our Fort Collins, CO office. While it’s feasible to draw out treatments over three to four months for local residents, this isn’t the case for individuals and families who travel from far and wide to get help for scoliosis.

The exact length of your treatment depends on the severity of your spinal curvature and your other individual needs. Still, most out-of-town patients work with us for up to two weeks. We apply the various treatment protocols outlined above one to three times per day to speed up your spinal recovery.

After the treatment period is over, most of our patients see an average curvature reduction of 25 to 50 percent. We then send you home with rehabilitation equipment to help you maintain or even continue reducing your scoliotic curvature over the coming months.

Receive Help for Scoliosis at Spine Correction Center of the Rockies

If you suspect your child has a spinal condition, seek an early diagnosis and begin treatment as soon as possible. Spine Correction Center of the Rockies is one of the few clinics in the US that operates as a Scoliosis Treatment Center. Our extensive training and certification allow us to treat all severity levels of scoliotic curvatures.

The path to a healthy spine and pain-free way of life begins with a free consultation at Spine Correction Center of the Rockies, which can be done in person, over the phone, or online. Give us a call at (970) 658-5115 to ask any questions or set up an appointment for you or your child.