Idiopathic Scoliosis – Definition, Treatments And More

You should not be afraid of the term idiopathic scoliosis even if the term might seem scary. This is because it can be treated in a number of ways. It all relies in early detection and prevention. Since it can happen to anybody, you should also read more about the condition even if you think that it is impossible for you to develop this condition. Here are some of the things that you need to know about the disease.

All about the disease: Idiopathic Scoliosis Definition

Scoliosis is a general term used to describe the general curvature of the spine. This is the reason why the condition has so many types and Idiopathic scoliosis of the spine is just one of them. It refers to a condition wherein the spine is curved to a certain degree and the cause is unknown. Your spine may curve to the right or left which can cause your spine to become C-shaped. However, there are also times wherein the spine can curve on both directions, causing it to become S-shaped.

Statistics say that this type of scoliosis is one of the most common types out there. It can affect young children and adults. It does not discriminate in terms of age, race and gender. Its severity also differs from one person to another.

What are the treatments?

Surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

 Surgery has to be one of the most effective and quickest ways to cure this medical condition. This is the reason why a lot of people prefer to sign up for this type of idiopathic scoliosis treatment. However, only half of the people who are willing to sign up for this kind of treatment can be accommodated. This is because in order for you to receive this kind of treatment, you have to be eligible for it.

This means that you need to meet certain conditions. One of the conditions that you need to meet is that the curvature of your spine should be greater than 20 degrees. This is because a curvature that is this severe can no longer be thwarted by non-surgical options.

Another thing is that you should be healthy enough for the procedure. If your immune system is compromised or if you have blood-clotting problems, your doctor might not prescribe this option for you. These conditions might cause life-threatening scenarios. This is why you won’t be able to receive this kind of treatment unless your doctor gives you the go signal.

Idiopathic Scoliosis Exercises

The efficiency of these exercise routines does not rely on how hard the routines are. Its success relies on how much you do them. You need to sign up for a program that you need to stick to religiously. There are times wherein you will need to o the exercise routines regularly for more than a year. It all depends on the degree of the curvature of your spine.

These programs are not just composed of exercise routines that are going to make you use the muscles on your back. It also contains a lot of routines that can increase your flexibility in general such as stretching. It also contains routines that can help improve your posture more efficiently.

Most of these routines will make you stay in a specific position for a couple of seconds, return to your normal position and then hold that position again for the second time. In order to make sure that you follow the right routines and accidents are prevented, it is best to have a trainer by your side whenever you are doing these routines.

Back Braces

A lot of people resent this kind of treatment for the condition because they think that these braces look downright hideous. Others on the other hand, do not like them because they are too hard to ignore.

What they do not realize is that this is the next best thing to having a surgery. This is the reason why you should not reject this idea. If there is one thing, you should realize that at some point, this is a lot better than having a surgery.

This is because you won’t have to sign up for an invasive procedure. You will be able to save yourself from the thought of going under the knife and being sedated for a couple of hours. You won’t have to go through days and weeks of preparation for the surgery.

Another thing is that this is a more affordable option. The only thing that you need to pay for is the actual braces. You won’t have to worry about the hospital bills and the medications that you need to take after the surgery.

Keeping Track of the Degree of Curvature

Even though all of these treatments are guaranteed to help lessen the degree of the curvature of the spine, you should continuously monitor the degree of the curvature of your spine regularly. This is because the curvature might become worse if you don’t stick with the guidelines of these treatments.

A worsening curvature is the strongest indicator that you are doing something wrong. In which case, you will need to consult your doctor in order to make sure that you are not doing anything wrong that can worsen your idiopathic scoliosis.