“Stand up straight!” What child hasn’t heard that from a parent at one time or another? Indeed, having good posture helps promote overall health, and is made possible by a spine that is strong and aligned. But there are times when a certain deformity of the spine makes proper posture more difficult — a condition known as scoliosis.
At the office of Boston Sports & Shoulder Center, spinal problems are our specialty. We are devoted to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders and deformities such as scoliosis, providing treatment options that can help all our patients lead happier and more productive lives.
Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, where it looks like it’s growing sideways, developing into an ‘S’ shape or a ‘C’ shape. There are many types of scoliosis that involve the thoracic spine, lumbar spine or both, and it is the leading spinal problem affecting school-aged children. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some children develop spinal deformities that become more pronounced as they grow.
Symptoms commonly appear during adolescent years, when the curvature of the spine may cause the person’s posture to look asymmetrical in the shoulders, hips and waistline. For example the shoulders or waist creases may be at different heights from side to side, or when bending forward the ribs on one side of the trunk may protrude more.
The goal of treatment is to prevent the spinal curve from getting worse and to correct or stabilize a severe spinal curve, which can involve physical therapy, bracing, and even surgery in some cases, to correct the deformity. Treatment options vary depending on the patient’s age and the type and severity of the scoliosis.
At the office of Boston Sports & Shoulder Center, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate orthopedic spinal care. For more information on our office and the many services we provide, give us a call today.