Local girl gets help with scoliosis!

Recently, Samantha H. had a follow up x-ray taken of her spine to monitor her scoliosis.  Samantha and her parents are very pleased with the results.  See picture.

Dr. Robert Moore at Awesome Chiropractic on Old US23 in Brighton used specific upper cervical techniques and whole body vibration to help Samantha.  She began care in February 2013 and a follow up x-ray was taken at the end of September of 2013. 

Another 10 year old boy was provided care and the results were equally amazing.  Other patients who followed through with care are still being evaluated and Dr. Moore plans on posting the results soon.

Awesome Chiropractic is having FREE Scoliosis Screenings for kids in high school and younger.  To participate call (810) 225-7246.

Here is more information about scoliosis...

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis comes from the Greek word for twisted or crooked. In health care we use the term scoliosis only as it applies to the spine. As we apply this to some one’s body, I can’t imagine that "twisted or crooked" would be ideal.

Scoliosis of the spine can go unnoticed or be extreme causing pain, difficulty breathing and numerous other health issues, depending on the severity.

What causes scoliosis?

Until recently, scientists had very little understanding as to why scoliosis happens in a person. Current research points to the cause being a problem with communication between the body and the brain. This is called proprioceptive insult.

Normally, your brain is constantly receiving information from your body as to what position you are in. This helps the brain know how to maintain posture in order to fight gravity. These are the strongest and fastest nerve in the body. If you think about it; you need to know where you are so that you don’t fall over. It would be a good idea to know where your arms and legs are before you start walking.

Sometimes traumas may occur causing imbalance to the alignment of the spine. This causes proprioceptive insult to the brain. Now the brain does not have a clear picture of what the spine is doing. The brain kicks in the righting reflex in order to "straighten" you upright. If there is a bend to the right from the trauma, the body leans to the left side in order to "right the ship". Here is where the curve takes form.

You may be asking; "what kind of traumas?" Traumas come in three forms:

• Physical trauma: birth trauma, car accidents, falls and all the other things people do.
• Chemical trauma: poor diet, food additives, pollution, medication and all the junk people eat.
• Mental trauma: anxiety, stress, abuse and all the other problems people deal with daily.

How Awesome Chiropractic helps people with Scoliosis.

First of all, we do a complete physical examination and x-rays to find out all we can about the scoliosis. Next, we develop a plan to restore balance to the spine and stimulate the brain to create a new picture of the body. This is done with specific adjustments to the spine and the use of whole body vibration on the Vibe Plate.

Restoring the normal alignment of the vertebra through specific adjustments will free up the normal nerve flow from the body to the brain. Now the brain can recognize the position that the body is in. With that in mind, we will give the patient a weight or combination of weights to accentuate the curve. In doing this we stimulate the brains "righting reflex". We have the person stand on the Vibe Plate and do antagonistic exercises in the reverse direction.

The Vibe Plate provides whole body vibration to stimulate the position and movement nerves of the body. Remember that we said these are the strongest and fastest nerve in the body? While the brain is "righting the spine", we add in more proprioceptive stimulation with whole body vibration. Just look at the pictures to see the results.

This is best done on a High School or younger child. After grade school, most kids’ spines have completed the growing cycle. Thus, making developmental changes and straightening more difficult.

For adults with scoliosis we take the approach of optimizing what is there.  We will work to restore balance to the spine, use traction mechanisms to keep motion in the spine and often use whole body vibration.  All our adult patients find relief.

Traditional ways to treat people with Scoliosis?

What we just talked about is cutting edge. Traditionally, people are only treated for scoliosis in extreme cases. Leaving the smaller curves to only get worse through lack of care.

Braces are still being used today. One study from Harvard says that bracing has "significantly decreased the progression of high-risk curves to the threshold for surgery in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis". This means that a grade school child with a significant scoliosis, can be kept from getting surgery with bracing. The study makes no mention of older kids and adults.

Surgery is also being performed on people with severe scoliosis. Rods are inserted into the spinal column in order to straighten the area.

Neither of those traditional methods addresses proprioceptive insult to the brain. In fact, bracing has been proven to be extremely detrimental to the healing of a joint. Normal range of motion has to be restored to a joint in order for healing to take place. The spine is made up of more than 75 joints.

Who gets Scoliosis?

Once a person becomes upright by sitting or standing, they are liable to get scoliosis. Especially, if a trauma creates an imbalance in the spine and proprioceptive insult to the brain occurs.

Changing a scoliosis is best accomplished with a young child or adolescent. This is the developmental time period of the spine. If left unchecked, permanent changes to the shape of the vertebrae can occur, leaving one side shorter than the other. Just imagine a block of wood with unequal sides. Try stacking those straight.

FREE Scoliosis Screening for High School and younger kids.

After over 20 years of chiropractic, I have learned the best way to screen for scoliosis is through x-ray imaging. I have seen people with level shoulders and hips have scoliosis and people with un-level shoulders and hips have a straight spine. X-rays are the best way to find out if a person has scoliosis.

On that note, mention this article for a FREE scoliosis screening x-ray of high school and younger children. If we can address the issues at a young age, we can save a lot of problems in the future. Simply call our office today at (810) 225-7246 to have your child evaluated today.

Side note: the free x-ray is a frontal view of the spine only, as determined by examination and need.

Harvard Study: Effects of Bracing in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis, Stuart Weinstein, M.D. et al. New England Journal of Medicine, Sept. 2013