Articles
By PAUL HELZER, DC, PhD
Scoliosis
No other spinal condition creates as much fear and confusion as does Scoliosis, especially in the minds of parents with children in the susceptible eight to twelve-year age group. Because Scoliosis usually affects the growing spine, it is considered primarily a child’s disorder and is far more evident among young girls than boys. Having a clear understanding of this condition and how it can be prevented will help parents raise strong and healthy kids.
The most common symptoms of Scoliosis are pain, stiffness and a change in the natural curve of the spine. In severe cases, heart and lung symptoms may also arise, but the most dreaded effect of Scoliosis is the spinal deformity. While this condition has dozens of complex variations, by definition, scoliosis is the lateral curvature of the spine. Some affliction types are understood and predictable, but many are still a mystery. Idiopathic Scoliosis is one relatively common type and is very difficult to treat. Despite years of study and research Scoliosis remains difficult to manage, depending on type and severity the treatment remains the same: early detection.
Scoliosis progresses during the growing years in most patients. Therefore it is essential that children are examined annually to detect developing signs of the condition, the earlier the better, from the time your child begins to walk; their spine is growing and developing. However, emphasis is usually placed upon examination during the school age years. As a parent there is a simple procedure that can be used to screen a child at home. Here is a checklist of how to perform this simple test. First have the child disrobe from the waist up, have the child face away from you with arms down. Standing behind them check for the following:
- The head and shoulders should be centered, not tilted to one side or the other
- The shoulders should be leveled on both sides
- The tips of the fingers should be at the same level when hanging at the side
- Place your hands on the child’s hips, they should be at the same on both sides
- Have the child bend forward from the waist, from behind examine the rib cage, it should be leveled on both sides
Proper and thorough examination of suspected Scoliosis is essential. Chiropractic physicians are expertly trained to examine, evaluate and treat this condition. Due to the varying types of Scoliosis, specialized examination procedures including X-ray may be necessary for proper diagnosis. After thorough evaluation the Chiropractic physician may determine if medical attention is necessary. At that time the proper referral will be issued. If however, it is determined that chiropractic care is needed, a treatment program will be recommended. Gentle manipulative therapy or adjustment is often effective in relieving the pain and stiffness associated with Scoliosis. Other measures like exercise and stretching maneuvers may also be recommended. Periodic evaluation is essential during the course of treatment in order to check progress and to determine the course of the condition.
If any of the checklist items appear abnormal, a Chiropractic examination and consultation should be seriously considered, since a Chiropractic physician specializes in Musculoskeletal Spinal conditions.
Forward Head Position (FHP)
Does your mother or father have a large fatty pad or “hump” just at its base of their week? Have they been told it’s hereditary and there’s nothing to be done for it? Are you worried that you may wind up with the same deformity? Well read on...
One of the most common postural problems is the forward head posture (FHP). Since we live in a forward facing world, the repetitive use of computers, TV, video games, trauma, and even backpacks have forced the body to adapt to a forward head posture. Repetitive movements in a certain direction will strengthen nerve and muscle pathways to move that way more readily. An example would be the adaptation of the body to do gymnastics easily after repetitive practice. It is the repetition of forward head movements combined with poor ergonomic postures and/or trauma that causes the body to adapt to a forward head posture.
FHP is relatively easy to detect. Have the person you are checking look up at the ceiling, down at the floor, and then straight ahead. Find the center of the shoulder and draw an imaginary line up. It should land through the middle of the ear’s hold (external auditory meatus). Any forward head posture should be immediately checked by a chiropractor. “Despite considerable evidence that posture affects physiology and function, the significant influence of posture on health is not addressed by most physicians.” Remember, long standing postural problems like FHP will cause spine and nerve damage, and symptoms are rarely present early on.
Ideally, the head should sit directly on the neck and shoulders, like a golf ball sits on a tree. The weight of the head is more like a bowling ball than a golf ball, so holding it forward, out of alignment, puts a strain on your neck and upper back muscles. The result can be muscle fatigue and, all too often, an aching neck. Because the neck and shoulders have to carry this weight all day in an isometric contraction, this causes neck muscles to lose blood, get damaged, fatigue, strain, cause pain, burning and fibromyalgia. When spinal tissues are subject to a significant load for a sustained period of time, they deform and undergo remodeling changes that could become permanent. This is why it takes time to correct FHP. In addition, FHP has been shown to flatten the normal neck curve, resulting in disc compression, damage, and early arthritis. This abnormal position is also responsible for many tension headaches, often termed cervicogenic headaches.
FHP also causes tension in the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) or jaw joint, leading to pain, headaches and bite problems. Some evidence exists that postural positions can effect the nerve tissue by altering blood flow to the spinal cord. People with uncorrected FHP can potentially suffer chronic or unpleasant conditions, such as pinched nerves and blood vessels, like thoracic outlet syndrome, muscle and tissue pain, syndromes like fibromyalgia, chronic strains and early degeneration and arthritis.
Monitoring good posture is a lifetime commitment. With a little effort and a chiropractor on your health care team, you can be assured a future doing things you love to do, rather than suffering from damage and degeneration poor posture can bring.
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For more information or a
free consultation call or write:
Paul Helzer, DC, PhD
HELZER HEALING ARTS CENTER
9461 Flower Street
Bellflower CA 90706
(562) 866-3721