Chiropractor Encinitas-Spinal Scoliosis is Not Just a Childhood Condition.

Chances are you're one of the millions of adults in America who has experienced back pain. Sprains, strains or spasms are commonly responsible for the misery, but one cause of back pain in adults that's often overlooked is scoliosis, or lateral (side-to-side) curvature of the spine.

Encinitas Chiropractic- Scoliosis is usually thought of as a childhood disorder, but an estimated 6 percent of Americans over age 50 have some degree of scoliosis, as do about 15 percent of those older than age 60 who have low back pain. The numbers are likely even higher, as scoliosis frequently goes undetected in adults.

To be accurately checked or examined for spinal curvature (scoliosis) call your Encinitas chiropractor.

For example, in a study of almost 1,300 adults with back pain who had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, researchers found that 13 percent of people age 46 to 60 and 39 percent of those over age 60 had lumbar (lower back) scoliosis. But the scoliosis was not detected in nearly 67 percent of cases, especially when the spinal curvature was mild (11 degrees to 20 degrees). Even in people with moderate to severe curvature (more than 20 degrees), scoliosis was undetected more than 10 percent of the time.

As with scoliosis in childhood, adult scoliosis is more common in women than in men. In the Johns Hopkins study, which was published in the American Journal of Neuroradiology, females were 1.5 times as likely as males to have scoliosis.

What Causes Scoliosis in Adults? Scoliosis in people over age 40 usually results from age-related degenerative changes to the spine such as osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. These conditions can cause the spine to lose its structural stability, increasing the risk of spinal curvature.

In some instances, the degenerative diseases of the spine can cause scoliosis. Osteoporosis is when the bones soften and usually occurs in older people. This softening can cause the vertebrae to bend and shape the curve causing scoliosis or kyphosis (round back). If not treated properly, severe back pain, deformity, and difficulty breathing can be some symptoms that will arise.

In other cases, scoliosis can be a genetic or familial or is idiopathic, meaning there is no apparent reason for its development. Most people with this type of scoliosis have had the condition since childhood, but in adulthood the scoliosis has progressed enough to cause symptoms.

The misconception that scoliosis is a childhood condition often prevents people from getting checked out. If you have any concerns, it's important to make an appointment with a doctor. It's important to diagnose the condition in its early stages. Encinitas Chiropractic care can help improve this condition. Your Encinitas chiropractor looks at your overall health examining your spine as well as other factors of your lifestyle. To help identify the problem's cause, your chiropractor Encinitas will discuss symptoms and previous injuries, your family's health history, and recreational and work-related activities. Palpation, orthopedic, and neurological tests will be performed as well as x-rays to determine the extent.

For a professional scoliosis screening and examination for a child or an adult call your chiropractor Encinitas.