Screening Your Children for Scoliosis
Contributed by Ruby Mountain Chiropractic
Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curve in the spine that, if not caught early, can become worse with age, cause significant back pain, and lead to significant spine, neurological and health issues. Your children should have the chance to grow healthy and strong, which is why it’s important to know the signs of scoliosis and check your kids constantly.
Checking Your kids
Checking your child’s spine for scoliosis is possible at home and in our practice. If you’re opting for the at-home method, do the following:
1. Have your child bend over at the waist. Stand behind them and check the curve of the spine. This is called Adam’s test for scoliosis. The back should have a smooth curve. Also take a look at the ribcage on both sides as they bend forward. If you notice the ribcage bulging more on one side than the other, it may be a cause for concern.
2. Next, look at your child’s back while they are standing and check for any of the following:
∙ Is one shoulder higher than the other? They should be level.
∙ Does their pelvis rotate forward on one side more than the other?
∙ Is one hip higher than the other? They should be level.
∙ Does the spine look straight or curved? Curving sideways is a problem.
It’s important to remember that discovering scoliosis early can often lead to improved management and excellent outcomes. Did you know our office was a leading office in the research on scoliosis identification and treatment? We now utilize the most advanced technique to measure and analyze abnormal curves of the spine so treatment possibilities can be identified.
If you think you may be seeing signs of scoliosis in your child, we are here to help.
Schedule today!