Identifying the Symptoms of Scoliosis
Scoliosis is defined as a condition where the spine of an individual is curved from one side to another. It is a complicated three-dimensional deformity. However, when viewed on an X-ray report and from the back, the spine may resemble the alphabets “C” or “S” instead of appearing as a straight line. Scoliosis can be classified as neuromuscular, congenital or idiopathic. It is:
Neuromuscular: When scoliosis occurs as a result of a secondary symptom owing to the onset of other conditions such as spina bifida, spinal muscular atrophy, physical trauma or cerebral palsy.
Congenital: When it is diagnosed as been present at birth and is caused as a result of vertebral anomalies.
Idiopathic: When the exact cause of the condition is not known and is therefore sub classified as adolescent, infantile, adult or juvenile.
It is necessary to be aware of the symptoms. You can then consult Loughton scoliosis specialists for further treatment. There are various signs to help someone determine the onset of such a medical condition. Whenever, you observe any of the following signs, it is necessary that you schedule an appointment with the doctor.
1. The rib cages are at different heights
2. The shoulders are of different heights. This can be identified by the fact that one of the shoulder blades is more apparent than the other one.
3. Uneven waist
4. The head is not positioned in line above the pelvis
5. One side of the body is inclined to one particular side
6. Appearance of a prominent or a raised hip
7. Marked changes in the texture and the appearance of the skin over the spine such as the appearance of hairy patches, dimples or even change in the skin tone
One test that is carried out by paediatricians to determine scoliosis is the Adam’s Forward Bend Test. There are several children from the fifth and sixth grades who are put through the test which can be easily carried out by parent volunteers and school nurses. During this test, the patient is asked to incline forward with their feet joined together and then gradually bend 90 degrees from the waist. The medical professional can then make an assessment of the view in order to determine abnormal spinal curvatures or any other asymmetry in the trunk. It is one of the simplest screening tests conducted to determine the potential problem. However, there are other associated tests that need to be performed in order to determine the severity of the problem.
After a doctor suspects that a patient suffers from scoliosis, a bone scan of the spine, x-ray, CT scan, spinal radiograph and MRI are done to determine the gravity of the condition. The curve is measured with the help of the Cobb method and is stated in degrees. A curve or 25 to 30º is considered to be a significant one. Curves which range from 45 to 50º degrees are categorised as severe and thus need to be treated.
The doctor may also advise examinations to check the patient’s reflex, breathing ability and sensory and motor functions. As a resident of Chingford, you can consult a Chingford scoliosis specialist for the treatment of such a condition.
About the author: Helena Wright is an alternative therapy specialist trained in osteopathy. She has published a number of articles on medical conditions that can be treated with osteopathy. She recommends consulting a Chingford scoliosis specialist for curing scoliosis.
Processing your request, Please wait....
