Mind the Curvature of the Spine – Health News
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation specialist. Dr. Fatma Şeker stated that scoliosis is defined as the curvature of the spine of more than 10 degrees and underlined that it occurs in infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood for various reasons. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation specialist. Dr. Fatma Şeker continued her words as follows:
“Structural anatomical disorders, traumas, tumors, hip and foot deformities, herniated discs, muscle diseases, neurological disorders can cause scoliosis. However, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) of unknown origin is the most common type of scoliosis in the age of 10-18 years. group, often in the growth and development period. Scoliosis below 20 degrees, which is detected early in patients with persistent growth, is treated with physiotherapy and a patient-specific exercise program. These treatments are also corseting above 20 degrees. above 40 degrees, the treatment is surgery. In patients with scoliosis, there is usually no other complaint except curvature in the image. In general, low-grade scoliosis is noticed by doctors on X-rays taken for various reasons.
Families often report to the outpatient clinic with complaints about a posture disorder or shoulder height difference in their child. Adam’s test is the most commonly used research method in scoliosis research. In this exam, the patient is asked to lean forward in front of the Posture Analysis Ruler and the curvature of the spine and height difference on the back are checked. If there are muscle diseases that can cause scoliosis, neurological disorders, orthopedic deformities, leg length discrepancies or other complaints in the history that can cause scoliosis, this will be investigated. Grade and type of scoliosis are evaluated with scoliosis X-rays and the condition of growth nuclei is determined with hand or hip X-rays. If other diseases are considered to be the cause, investigations such as MRI, blood, X-rays and EMG are requested as necessary. With the cessation of growth in patients with AIS, the progression of scoliosis also stops. Regardless of the final treatment, all patients with scoliosis are recommended a patient-specific exercise, physical therapy and rehabilitation program.
exp. Dr. Fatma Şeker noted that the exercise program can go backwards and stop scoliosis or slow its progression. Emphasizing that the studies show that the exercise and physiotherapy program applied before surgery increases the success of the surgery, even in patients who will undergo surgical treatment, he cautioned that a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation should be consulted in case scoliosis is suspected.