Scoliosis is a curve in the spine. It’s most commonly seen in childhood, but it can also come about in adulthood. Scoliosis in adults can occur due to various reasons, including uneven pelvic position, genetics, past spinal or joint surgeries, foot or knee distortions, or even severe injuries.

Some curves are more severe than others. Scoliosis may be corrected through bracing and surgery in moderate to severe cases. If you suspect scoliosis, consult your doctor without delay about an appropriate treatment plan.

Types of scoliosis

A physician or physical therapist may prescribe certain exercises to help you with your structural difference, but they are not a means for permanent scoliosis treatment. Treatment for moderate to severe scoliosis mostly involves surgery.

Mild

Mild scoliosis will usually not require medical attention and is not as apparent as other posture disorders.

Mild scoliosis is the term that describes scoliosis where the spine’s Cobb angle, or curvature, is less than 20 degrees. Mild scoliosis is the most responsive and curable with exercises.

Moderate

Moderate scoliosis may be treated with exercise by wearing a medically prescribed brace. However, moderate scoliosis develops into severe scoliosis, defined as a spine curvature between 20-40 degrees.

Severe

Severe scoliosis means the curvature is more than 40 degrees, and it usually needs to be corrected with spinal surgery.

Corrective measures for scoliosis

Exercises

Mild scoliosis can often be managed simply with exercise, medical observation, specific physical therapy, and chiropractic treatment from a chiropractic scoliosis specialist.

The exercises may not necessarily target your specific scoliosis diagnosis, but that is a good starting point to get you moving. Strength and conditioning exercises are sometimes enough to reduce mild scoliosis symptoms.

Bracing

Moderate scoliosis management involves bracing to stop the development of spinal curvature. Depending on the spine’s curve, your doctor might increase medical observation.

Once it reaches a certain advanced curvature, and once the scoliosis patient reaches a certain age, surgery becomes the only and the most recommended treatment option. Surgical treatment of scoliosis can take several forms and depends on several factors, including:

• the way the spine is shaped
• how tall you are
• whether the growth has severely impaired other parts of the body

Surgery

Braces can only slow the progression of scoliosis. However, surgery can potentially fix the curve and stop it from getting worse.

There are various options, and valid surgery recommendations are based on:

• your age
• the severity of your curve
• previous treatment

Surgery is usually prescribed when:

• the spinal curvature is more than 40 degrees and is still progressing in a child
• surgical procedure that was performed on a child needs to be revised when they become an adult
• the spinal curvature of 50 degrees or larger is a sign of nerve damage, indicating stenosis

In most cases, surgery involves fusing spinal segments (vertebrae) after straightening the spine with solid metal rods.

Exercise is being recommended more as a treatment for mild scoliosis. Braces are the go-to solution for moderate scoliosis. Surgery is recommended for severe cases. If you are looking for professional help with corrective measures for scoliosis in Mumbai, feel free to contact us and book an appointment.