Scoliosis Treatment By Age

RISK / RATE OF SCOLIOSIS PROGRESSION BY AGE WITHOUT TREATMENT

As you can see, the rate of progression for scoliosis patients differs greatly by age. However, regardless of age, our goals are similar. Goals of treatment are as follows:

Reduce the scoliosis
Prevent any further progression
Improve function and reduce pain
Provide long term stabilization
If a patient is going to have surgery, prepare the patient for the best possible surgical outcome.

Unfortunately, there is no method to determine when a scoliosis is first diagnosed to determine the size of the curve in the future. However, the tendency is that once curves break 25 degrees, the curve will continue to progress throughout one’s life without any treatment. Therefore, acting when a curve is smaller is almost always the best decision.

INFANTS

Infants (0-3years of age) with scoliosis provide their own unique challenges. Mostly that treatment for infants will require modification from treatments that is designed for children and teens. Modified scoliosis-specific therapy and/or corrective bracing would be the most useful treatments for the age group depending on the severity of the case.

CHILDREN

Children with scoliosis between 3-10 years of age is normally the time when the best long term results can be achieved. However, this is also the time that most traditional approaches tell patients just “watch and wait.” Depending on the curve and maturity of the patient, all treatment methods can be applied to stop progression and reduce the scoliosis to prevent invasive treatments in the future.

TEENAGERS

Teenagers with scoliosis is the age when most cases of scoliosis are diagnosed. This is because scoliosis is the most progressive during growth spurts that are associated with this age group. Since curves can be progressing quickly, treatment options for this age group must be adaptive to meet the needs of a patient. Teenagers can use all of our treatment approaches to get through this most progressive stage of scoliosis in attempt to prevent further progression. In either case, acting on the scoliosis quickly is advised due to how quickly curves can progress.

ADULTS

Adults with scoliosis are not rapidity progressing. In fact, most patients that determine they have scoliosis as an adult, is because of pain. Pain is a concern of untreated scoliosis because an unbalanced spine is more prone to degenerative changes which can lead to further progression over time. Traditionally, the only treatment option for adult patients is drugs for pain, or scoliosis surgery. Since adult scoliosis is progressing slowly, our treatment options can get reductions in curvatures, and reduce pain simultaneously. This can prevent the need for invasive surgery. The specific scoliosis home program can help the adults with scoliosis negate the slow progressive nature of scoliosis to prevent further deterioration of their condition.

ELDERLY

Elderly patients with scoliosis can find themselves dealing with a vast amount of limitations. These limitations may not be resolved with surgery. In fact, the surgery itself may impose more limitations. Our treatment options can help even elderly achieve a more functional spine so they can preserve their ability to perform activities of their daily life. If limitations already exist, a modified program will be constructed based upon the ability of the patient to achieve the very best results.

Common Treatment Options for Scoliosis

Scoliosis Treatment in St. Augustine:

Scoliosis-specific approaches designed specifically with the scoliosis patient in mind hold promise for effective results. CLEAR uses a scoliosis-specific protocol that has been in clinical use since 2000 and is currently taught through postgraduate courses at accredited chiropractic universities. This protocol shows much greater promise than what was done in the past. In addition, scoliosis-specific exercise approaches show effectiveness in many patients.

Certified CLEAR Scoliosis Institute Doctor:

For over 20 years, Dr. J Hartley has been providing effective scoliosis treatment to children, adolescents, adults and seniors. Dr. Hartley is a certified CLEAR Scoliosis doctor and he is a certified ScoliBrace provider.