Posted by Dr. Chad Morton on Jan 26, 2014 in Blog | 0 comments
In the New York Times article “Scoliosis Can Hit Well Past Adolescence,” the author discusses the newly recognized epidemic condition – Adult Onset Scoliosis which she defines as, “an asymmetrical curvature of the spine that, if unchecked, could eventually lead to a shorter and more crooked disability by entrapped spinal nerves, and dependency on a walker to maintain balance.”
A scoliosis is any sideways curve or tilt in the spine. It is considered a disease process if it is measurably increasing over a period of time. This is most often seen in adolescents when their bodies are growing at a rapid rate, especially throughout their teenaged years. But now it is being seen more frequently in adults.
“The prevalence of scoliosis in adults is high and expected to increase as the population ages. The most common underlying cause of spinal deformities arising in midlife or later is the degeneration of the discs between vertebrae and sometimes of the vertebrae themselves.”
In my practice the majority of people I examine have some degree of postural twist and torsion. Most have a tilt in the shoulders and a short leg to boot.
If these forces are left unchecked they can progressively cause chronic postural distortions in the spine. Ultimately this speeds up the degeneration of the discs, taxes the postural muscles and interferes with proper nerve flow from the brain to the body. This reduced nerve flow impedes your body’s ability to maintain and heal itself.
Did you know that chiropractors can help manage scoliosis in adults and children? Chiropractors are experts in spinal health care and treatment. The negative impact of improper posture and alignment is a silent until it is too late.
The number one comment I hear from my geriatric patients is, “I wish I had of taken better care of their spine when I was younger.”
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