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What is scoliosis

Idiopathic scoliosis is classified as a patient having at least a 10-degree lateral curve of the spine often coupled with a rotational component (1)

Causes of scoliosis

The main causes can be:

There are scolioses that do not worsen, whereas others can experience dramatic worsening especially during the pubertal growth spurt, or that continue to worsen in adulthood. (2)

Symptoms associated with scoliosis

Rotational deformities associated with scoliosis can lead to an increased incidence of low back pain, pain, reduced respiratory function or impairments and a decrease in the patient’s quality of life (1).

Neurological symptoms and deficits are also common among adults with scoliosis including incidences of severe back pain, radiculopathy, claudication, myelopathy and bowel/bladder dysfunction (4)

Inclusion of manual therapies

The treatment for scoliosis can range from simple observation for less serious curvatures to surgical intervention for more serious cases (2). Between these, manual therapy is commonly used with some benefit in treating scoliosis.

Research has indicated that the utilisation of myofascial release by a practitioner, see patients experience a decrease in pain and improved posture. This is achieved by removing myofascial restrictions that create uneven axial loads on the spine. (1)

While acute pain is often improved with just a single dose treatment, more persistent and dysfunctional patterns only show noticeable improvement from the compound effects of several sessions (3)

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References