At Granger Chiropractic our Chiropractors are commonly asked do you see children? The answer is a definite yes! One of the many reasons parents ask this question is that they often notice as children start to reach pre puberty and 10 years and up that their spine may look uneven or asymmetrical. This condition is called Scoliosis which is an abnormal sideways curve of the spine. The cause is usually unknown. It is also usually more prevalent in girls than boys.1
In profile, the healthy spine has three natural curves that form a loose ‘S’ shape: at the neck, upper back and lower back. From the rear, the healthy spine should look straight. When a person has scoliosis, they have an abnormal sideways curve that makes the spine look tilted when viewed from behind.
Other visible symptoms may include.
● One shoulder tilted down towards a raised hip, as if the child is leaning sideways
● Prominent ribs
● A protruding shoulder blade
● Tilted waist
● The curve is more pronounced when the child bends forward. 2
There can be many reasons why a child can develop scoliosis from simple mechanical imbalances such as an uneven leg length during growth to also some more serious neuromuscular conditions. Though the most common cause is called Juvenille Idiopathic Scoliosis, and still to this day we don’t know why it occurs.3
Scoliosis can also range from extremely mild to quite severe cases and everything in between. So if you are ever concerned with regard to your child’s spinal posture, make an appointment and allow us to assess them. Through the use of physical examination and often radiographs we can determine an appropriate course to guide your child through their growth and also develop a multi disciplinary treatment plan or even referral if it is appropriate in your case.
References:
1. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/scoliosis
2. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/scoliosis
3. https://www.scoliosis-australia.org/about-scoliosis/types-of-scoliosis/
