BATTLING SCOLIOSIS WITH CARE & TREATMENT

By Dr. Anthony DeLuca, Director of DeLuca Family Chiropractic in Old Bridge, New Jersey, Selected for the Olympic training center in San Diego California and Colorado Springs Colorado

Scoliosis can af ict any person at just about any age. About 3% of children ranging from infants to 15-year-olds develop symptoms annually, while nearly 60% of our population aged 60 or better can expect to suffer from increasingly progressive forms of the disease.

Commonly associated with a C- or S-shaped curve to the spine, scoliosis is often recognized when an individual’s head is off center, their ribcage is asymmetrical, one hip appears more prominent than the other, and/or legs and shoulder blades appear uneven. Although the causes are generally unidenti able, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bi da, and birth defects stand as the leading culprits.

Fortunately, most cases, especially those among the young, are only accompanied by minor symptoms that often disappear over time. In fact, four out of ve people with scoliosis have curves of less than 20 degrees, which are generally unnoticeable and not a cause for concern given that the symptoms don’t progress.

However, children and adolescents can be plagued by mild curvatures that can worsen by 10 degrees or more in just a matter of months. These conditions can be disabling. An especially severe spinal curve can decrease lung function by placing added pressure on the chest cavity. It can also signi cantly limit the performance of physical activities, cause pain and/or affect heart function. These challenges can even diminish the person’s self-esteem and create other psychological problems since adolescents and teens who exhibit extreme conditions are commonly subjected to ridicule.

The good news is that most chronic cases of scoliosis are treatable and rarely require surgery. Many people with the disease lead normal, happy and productive lives. Physical activity, including exercise, is generally well-tolerated and even encouraged to help alleviate symptoms and increase the individual’s overall well-being.

That’s because minor scoliosis problems cause few, if any, physical challenges. Bracing is generally reserved for children who have not reached skeletal maturity (the time when the skeleton stops growing), and who have curves between 25 and 45 degrees. Spinal manipulation, therapeutic exercise and electrical muscle stimulation have also been advocated for its treatment.

Performed under the guidance of licensed professionals, exercise and core-strengthening programs designed speci cally to alleviate scoliosis affects can help improve the balance and posture of patients, minimize the spine’s curvature and reduce pain. For example, here are just a few of the therapeutic exercises commonly prescribed during the rehabilitation process:

• Pelvic tilts. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet at on the oor. Tighten your belly and buttocks, while slowly curling your pelvis bone inward and feeling the lower back atten against the oor. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 5 to 10 times

• Cat-camel. Start facing down with your knees and the palms of your hands at on the oor. Abs should be tight and head straight. Take a deep breath, while lifting the lower rib cage, rounding the back and relaxing the neck. Breathe out while lowering your chest toward the oor and looking slightly upward. Return to starting position. Repeat for two sets of 10

• Bird-dog. Begin on hands and knees with back held straight. Place hands directly under the shoulders with knees directly under the hips. Extend one arm straight out and forward while extending the opposite leg straight back. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat with the other arm and leg. Perform 10–15 repetitions on each side

• Foam roller balancing. Lie longwise on a foam roller with your tail on one end, head on the other and feet about hip-width apart. Lift one knee so your calf is parallel to the oor. Lift the opposite arm so your ngers are pointing toward the ceiling. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side

• Superman. Lie on your stomach with arms extended and palms down. Lift both feet and arms several inches off the oor. Start by holding this position for 10 seconds. Lower and repeat 5 times

• Basic plank. Start in a pushup position and then lower yourself onto your elbows, which should be directly under the shoulders. Keep head relaxed while looking downward. Hold for 10 seconds. Build up to 30, 45, 60 seconds or more

Please feel free to contact DeLuca Family Chiropractic at (732) 679-2414 or visit our website at www.dfccares.com to establish a new sense of health, balance and well-being, Our dedicated staff located at 2309 Hwy 516 in Old Bridge, NJ will be happy to meet with you and tailor a chiropractic and wellness program speci cally targeted to your needs using minimally invasive, yet highly-effective techniques and services.