Last Modified on October 30, 2023 by Dr. Tyler Meier
What is scoliosis?
A healthy spine, when viewed from the side, has gentle curves to it. These curvatures are normal and critical to the health of the nervous system. The same spine, when viewed from the front, however, must run straight up and down the back. Therefore, any curvature that is visible through x-ray when viewing the spine from the front is considered abnormal. Patients with such a spinal abnormality have a condition called scoliosis.
Scoliosis is a relatively common condition that occurs most often during the growth spurt. It causes the spine to curve and rotate into a C-shape or S-shape instead of a straight line. Most scoliosis cases are considered to be idiopathic, meaning that they appear spontaneously without any detectable cause. Symptoms of scoliosis may include uneven shoulder blades with one being higher than the other, an uneven waist or hip, or the patient leaning toward one side.
Treatment options available
It is recommended that patients seek the help of a professional should scoliosis be suspected. If left untreated, scoliosis could lead to severe pain and significant deformity. It can also cause increased back pain, and in rare occasions, the rib cage may press against the lungs and heart, making it more difficult to breathe and harder for the heart to pump.
Treatment depends on the age of the patient and the severity of the case, as well as a slew of other factors such as preexisting conditions. Typically mild cases of scoliosis occur at a young age and may only require occasional monitoring. For patients with a more serious case, where the angle of scoliosis ranges between 25 and 40 degrees, wearing a body brace can help. Unfortunately though, until recently, braces were simply designed to prevent scoliosis from progressing rather than fixing the problem.
Another treatment option available to scoliosis patients is surgical intervention consisting of a process called spinal fusion, in which spinal implants, metallic screws and rods are required to hold the spine in a correct position.
If you are like most, and the thought of wearing a life-long brace or having undergoing invasive back surgery scares you, then perhaps a more proactive and therapeutic approach such as the ScoliBrace is the answer.
Why ScolioBrace?
Like any other surgery, spinal fusion does not fully guarantee perfect results and comes with many risks. Back surgery is often associated with complications ranging from infections and prolonged pain to loss of movement in the lower body and legs. In some cases, back surgery makes no difference and only exposes the patient to harm and financial burdens.
Dr. Tyler Meier is the only CBP certified chiropractor in Newport Beach, CA that possesses the training and expertise to not only detect varying types of scoliosis but treat them utilizing the Chiropractic BioPhysics protocol and fit patients with the revolutionary ScoliBrace.
Unlike typical braces that are not adjustable after the fitting, the ScoliBrace is actually designed to be adjusted often by the chiropractor, helping slowly and methodically reshape the spine back to normal.
By tightening and loosening parts of the ScoliBrace, the chiropractor is able to gently and slowly apply more pressure in certain problematic areas to work against the curve’s natural tendency to bring it back into alignment. Though considered as a long-term commitment, this treatment often delivers satisfactory results within a year or two that will eliminate any risk of surgical complications.
At CorePosture – chiropractor in Newport Beach, CA, we don’t want you to just survive but rather thrive. So please contact us today to get screened for scoliosis and begin treatment immediately to enjoy a life free of pain and deformity.
Dr. Tyler Meier is a board-certified, licensed chiropractor and founder of CorePosture Chiropractic in Newport Beach, CA