is a disorder that affects millions of people around the world. It is characterised by an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, and it comes in various forms; the most common form is idiopathic scoliosis
, which commonly develops during adolescence and has no known cause (although researchers are getting closer to solving this mystery).
However, many other forms of scoliosis do have a traceable cause. For example, thoracolumbar scoliosis can be detected at birth, and often arises as the result of an underlying condition such as spina bifida or cerebral palsy.
What is thoracolumbar scoliosis?
Thoracolumbar scoliosis is an abnormal curvature that resides in lower thoracic (mid-back) and the upper lumbar (lower back) regions of the spine. In cases of thoracolumbar scoliosis, the spine usually curves to the right; it mostly affects women, although men can suffer from this condition as well.
Thoracolumbar scoliosis can be caused by a number of different factors. The condition can be congenital, in which case the curve will form in the womb (at around the third to sixth week in utero) and be visible at birth. Alternatively, as mentioned above, this particular form of scoliosis can sometimes occur as a secondary result of conditions like spina bifida or cerebral palsy. It can also be caused by poor muscle control and muscle weakness.
How can it be treated?
Treating thoracolumbar scoliosis is dependent on a number of different factors. A patient with only a mild curve might not require treatment - just regular monitoring to ensure that the curve is not progressing. If the curve is especially severe then spinal fusion surgery may be required, but many patients are put off by the thought of undergoing surgery and instead resort to other methods to treat their spinal curve.
If the curve in your spine is caused by weak muscle control, then exercise-based physiotherapy may be suggested as a possible treatment option. Here at Scoliosis SOS
, we treat spinal curves of varying severities using our ScolioGold method.
This treatment programme is based around the Schroth method
and a mixture of scientifically proven non-surgical techniques from around the world, and it is designed to ensure that all aspects of each patient's condition are fully treated.
We can treat spinal curves measuring anywhere from 10 to 120 degrees
- please contact us today
to book an initial consultation or to find out more about our non-surgical treatment method.