What to Know about Scoliosis

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Scoliosis is when the spine curves in any way that is not considered normal – from side to side. This usually happens for teenagers going through puberty, because the spine does not stay straight as they go through the large growth spurt. Because it can happen to anyone, everyone should know about the problem and know when they need to get a scoliosis genetic test.

Scoliosis: The Basics

There are a few different causes of scoliosis. One of the most common is the fact that it runs in families, so it has something to do with the DNA of people. This is important to know because if scoliosis runs in your family, you should watch yourself and your children to see whether there are any signs. It can also occur as a result of back injuries or infections in the spine itself. Some people experience scoliosis as a birth defect, so the symptoms will be seen at a much younger age.

There are some signs and symptoms of scoliosis to keep an eye out for. One of the symptoms is when the shoulders are not even as the person is standing straight up. One shoulder blade may stick out farther than the other. Lastly, the person may have an uneven waist, or one side of the hip may be higher than the other. In the more severe cases, a person may experience one side of the ribs sticking out farther than the other. They will likely experience a lot of back pain and may even have trouble breathing easily.

Getting Tested

There are multiple ways to get tested for scoliosis. A doctor may just need to see the way you stand and bend to tell if your spine is crooked or not. You can also get a scoliosis genetic test if the problem has affected any family members. If you think you may have scoliosis or may be a high-risk patient, it is important to get tested to know whether you need to start treatment or not. Scoliosis will usually get worse over time if it is left alone, so it is best to take care of it right away.

The Key to Good Posture

Any chiropractic physician can tell you that good posture is important for a healthy back. It also can prevent other sore muscles and headaches. Good posture is also necessary to look good and stand tall. It gives you a confident look that cannot be found any other way. While adjusting out of a bad posture can be difficult at first, working toward it should help you get the great posture that you’ve always wanted. Over time, it will become natural.

Tips for Improving Your Posture

You will need to start by finding what good posture is for you. If you have a full-length mirror, it helps to stand in front of it and look at yourself while you do this exercise. Keep your back straight and bring your shoulders back a little bit. Pull in your belly and keep your chin up. Lower your shoulders and bring out your chest. You should be able to draw a line from your ankle to your knees to your hip and your shoulder. The vertebrae on your back should be stacked up on top of each other. Be careful to not scrunch forward or lean too far back. Try to stay like this as long as you can. It may be tiring at first. To help get used to this, there are some exercises you can do. Stand up straight and stick your arms straight out to the side so they are parallel to the ground. Slowly move them in small circles. After doing ten reps of ten, slowly raise and lower your arms to the hip from the same position. Do ten repetitions of ten exercises for this as well. This will help strengthen your muscles in the back so it becomes easier to hold yourself up properly.

Make Your Back Flexible

It’s important to make your back strong, but it is also necessary to keep it flexible as well. Find back stretches that you enjoy and put them into your routine every day. Even if you stretch while you are sitting at your desk, it will help. If you continue to have problems, start practicing yoga and go see a chiropractic physician.