Available data suggests that about 3% of the American population has already received a Scoliosis diagnosis. More often than not, the onset of this spine condition remains hidden until a curvature at and beyond 10 degrees occurs. And this usually comes with severe back pain. Because of the rising cases of this spine condition in the US, it would be helpful to gain some insight into it. The facts detailed below were contained in medical reports seeking to fully grasp scoliosis, its onset, and how it can affect the quality of life.
Early Scoliosis diagnosis
Why over 80% of Scoliosis cases in the United States start in adolescence is yet to be understood. However, the sudden spike in hormones and other growth indicators during this stage of life is suspected of contributing to a person’s predisposition to this spine condition. Among the African American community, there are reasons to suggest that scoliosis cases are under-reported. This explains the apparent lack of data to capture an accurate reflection of spine conditions in under-represented minorities.
It helps to contact professionals to check for any abnormal spine curvature. The chances of keeping it from progressing are higher when the condition is detected early. While at it, you may want to consider alternative care from chiropractors if a diagnosis is made. An experienced chiropractor with skills in treating all types of scoliosis cases can be your best bet.
Approved spine braces can halt curvature
Usually, when the curvature of the spine is at least 25 degrees, the specialist may prescribe a brace to slow down further progression. It is only in severe cases that surgery provides relief from the discomfort brought on by scoliosis. Indeed, research has also proven that regularly guided exercises can complement other therapies employed to manage scoliosis. However, before resorting to workouts, you can consider seeking medical advice first. The last thing you want to happen is aggravating a spine condition when you have little or no knowledge about it.
Active treatment may not be needed unless specified by a specialist
First of all, an irregular curve of less than 10° might not require any therapy unless it begins to disrupt your daily routines and comfort. According to medical research, the sideways curve only requires attention when the spine is off its mark by 10° and above. Therefore, if your curvature is not yet at that point, it would be necessary to get a doctor’s evaluation regularly. It can be every three to six months to check for progression or rapid sideways curvature.
Especially in young patients, doctors rely on skeletal maturity to plan treatment processes. The human skeleton is considered to reach maturity by age 25. This means the bones attain their complete mineralization at that age. Therefore, further bone growth stops until deterioration at an advanced age.
To conclude, there are reasons to believe that more people have scoliosis, but because they experience no symptoms, it remains undetected. As mentioned earlier, African Americans remain at the tail end of these diagnoses. Therefore, take it seriously and get your spine checked before it gets worse.