Choosing the Right Scoliosis Treatment for your Child

Posted by harryjason on May 22nd, 2017

Every spine of a person does curve, though the curve extent is what causes alarm. When back brace for scoliosis is used for treatment to a child, it is likely to stop the curving of the spine.  If left untreated, scoliosis becomes more serious to a growing child. You will find some explanations here below for diagnosed and treatment terms, if you suspect or your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis.

Screening and Testing for Scoliosis

There are many methods for screening for scoliosis and are all considered annually.  The following are the most common processes:

• Adam’s Forward Bend Examination

This test is performed in schools and it is the first way in which scoliosis is diagnosed. A medical specialist will require children to bend forward, straighten their legs and extend their arms downwards to check the symmetry.

• Doctor’s Test

When the Adam’s Forward Bend exam shows the probability of spinal curvature, one should visit the kid’s doctor for further tests.

• X-ray

An X-ray may be ordered by your child’s doctor after doing a physical examination, to confirm scoliosis presence and the significance of the curve.

Scoliosis Types

After undergoing orthotics and prosthetics tests, your kid will likely be diagnosed with adolescent or idiopathic scoliosis. Idiopathic scoliosis is very common and one which uses bracing treatment. The prosthetic leg might be necessary.

There are three other rare types of scoliosis:

• Congenital

This one starts in the womb then exists at birth. It is rare and needs surgery. Your pediatrician will determine the age that the surgery will be required.

• Degenerative

This kind of scoliosis is also known as adult scoliosis. It normally occurs as one grows older. It can be due to the untreated type of scoliosis at an early age or caused by gradual degeneration of spinal facet joints. Pain management treatment is mainly focused here than curvature stoppage through bracing.

• Neuromuscular

Neuromuscular conditions as muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy cause this type of spinal curves.

The age at which the spinal curve is determined is another way of categorizing idiopathic scoliosis.

• Infantile from birth until 3 years old.
• Juvenile starting from 3 up to 9 years of age.
• Adolescent is for the age of 10 to 18.

Spinal curves are also of different types.  S curves and C curves are both found in scoliosis patients. The direction and location where the spine curves compared to the whole spine make the difference.