- Physiotherapy for scoliosis
- Orthopedic vest
- Spine surgery
- Possible complications
- Signs of improvement and worsening
Treatment for scoliosis depends on the person's age and degree of scoliosis, but in many cases it is possible to achieve a cure with the proper treatment.
When scoliosis is still diagnosed in infants and children it is considered severe, and for that a good option is to use the orthopedic vest, under the guidance of a pediatric orthopedist, but in many cases spine surgery is indicated, in addition to physical therapy.
When it is discovered in teenagers or adults, many can benefit from physical therapy which can be a great help in being able to even completely cure scoliosis. However, in cases considered very serious, when the person is over 40 degrees, surgery can be considered the best option.
Scoliosis is considered problematic when it is greater than 10 degrees, requiring treatment with a vest and physiotherapy. When the person has lower degrees, he can benefit from swimming and Clinical Pilates to strengthen all the muscles, especially the back, making the posture more correct. Avoiding sitting awkwardly and lying on a sofa carelessly are important recommendations to avoid worsening this deviation in the spine.
Physiotherapy for scoliosis
Physiotherapy with exercises and electrostimulation devices is indicated for people with 10 to 35 degrees of scoliosis.
In physiotherapy several exercises can be performed with the objective of realigning the spine and for that it is necessary to know which side of the scoliosis is so that the side that is more shortened, is elongated and so that the side that is more elongated can be strengthened. However, both sides of the trunk must be worked on at the same time.
Physiotherapy should be performed daily, and can be done 2-3 times a week at the clinic and every other day at home, performing the exercises personally indicated by the physiotherapist.
A good technique for curing scoliosis is postural correction exercises using RPG, which is Global Postural Reeducation. This technique uses various postures and isometric exercises that aim to realign the spine bringing great benefits for the reduction of scoliosis and back pain. Other exercises indicated are Isostretching and Clinical Pilates. Find out what it is and examples of Isostretching.
Watch the following video and check out a series with exercises for scoliosis that you can do at home:
Vertebral manipulations through the chiropractic method can also help to reduce spinal pressure and realignment and can be used once a week after a physiotherapy session.
Orthopedic vest
The use of orthopedic vest is indicated for when scoliosis is between 20 and 40 degrees. In this case, the vest should be worn at all times, and should be removed only for bathing and physiotherapy.
It is usually placed on children over 4 years of age or teenagers and it may be necessary to spend years with it for the curvature of the spine to be normalized. It is not recommended to wear a vest when the curvature is greater than 60 degrees and between 40 and 60 degrees it is only indicated when it is not possible to perform the surgery.
The use of the vest forces the spine to be centralized and avoids surgery, being effective in most cases, but in order to have the expected effect, the vest must be worn for at least 23 hours a day, until the adolescent reaches the height final, around 18 years of age.
The vest can support only the lumbar spine; the lumbar and thoracic spine, or the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine, depending on the needs of each person.
Spine surgery
Surgery is indicated when there is more than 30 degrees of scoliosis in young people and 50 degrees in adults, and consists of placing some orthopedic screws to position the spine as upright as possible, but in most cases it is still not possible to leave the spine completely centralized, but it is possible to improve many deformities. Before and after surgery it is recommended to do physical therapy sessions to improve movements, increase amplitude, elasticity, and combat back pain.
Possible complications
If the individual does not treat scoliosis, it can evolve and cause a lot of pain in the back, neck or at the end of the spine, in addition to muscle contractures. When the inclination is large there may be other complications such as herniated disc, spondylolisthesis, which is when a vertebra slips forward or backwards, pressing on important structures of the spine and there may also be shortness of breath because the lung cannot expand sufficiently.
Signs of improvement and worsening
Signs of worsening scoliosis include increased spinal tilt, back pain, contractures and when scoliosis affects the final part of the spine, there may be symptoms of sciatic nerve involvement such as pain radiating to the legs, burning sensation or tingling in the glutes or legs. When it affects the middle part of the spine more, it can even compromise breathing, because the lung may have more difficulty expanding and filling with air.
The signs of improvement arrive when treatment is started and include a decrease in all these signs and symptoms.
