Growing up in a family-owned tool and dye business, I got the understanding of Precision and 3-D solid modeling. These concepts have helped me utilize and bring to the for forefront new conservative measures of treating scoliosis.

Scoliosis is a progressive disease of curvature of the spine. It affects approximately three percent of the general population and has little regard for race or socio-economic status.

The primary age of onset is between 10 and 15 years of age. Acquiring scoliosis that appears before the onset of puberty and skeletal maturity is called Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS).

In traditional scoliosis treatment, practitioners typically take a "wait and see" approach. By that I mean waiting and watching if your spinal curves become worse.

Typically a threshold of curvature between 20 and 30 degrees is reached before treatment even begins and usually its spinal bracing. The brace must be worn 18 to 23 hours per day for two to three years for it to be effective. Surgical cases typically have curves greater than 40 degrees for adolescent children.

Today, special procedures are available to begin treatment immediately upon discovery of the scoliosis to halt, or commonly reserve this disaster. If this is ineffective, resorting to higher risk measures is more appropriate.

There is a complementary approach to "traditional care". This approach is relatively non invasive, involves no brace at school, no knife and especially effective at reducing the scoliosis curvature for young adolescents.

This technique involves performing procedures in the comfort of the home and utilizing some of the most advanced equipment physical medicine has to offer. Since spinal bracing often leaves a physiological scar on children, corrective procedures performed in the home setting minimize this concern.

Recently, scoliosis practitioners began utilizing special equipment coupled with 3-D modeling that enables chiropractors to reduce soft tissue tension, "blue print" the spine, re-orientate the body's center of gravity, rehydrate thin discs, and ultimately change the structural make-up of the scoliotic spine. This breakthrough serves as a great conservative adjunct to existing protocols that were previously halting and reducing scoliotic curves.

Children with AIS typically respond faster and to a greater degree. Many adults, although past skeletal maturity are still able to benefit from these procedures as well.

The idea is to "catch" the scoliosis at a young age to reduce the need for more invasive procedures. Commonly, when scoliosis is finally visualized by a friend, family member, or health care provider the curve may already be fairly significant.

Placing more emphasis on frequent postural exams throughout development is an essential ingredient in early detection and enables a better prognosis.

Scoliosis Effects

• 100% of sufferers develop balance-coordination dysfunction
• 100% develop chronic back and neck pain
• 80% of affected females develop chronic menstrual irregularities
• 50% develop chronic digestive problems
• 40% develop shortness of breath
• Shortens life span by an average of 14 years

Sources: national Scoliosis Foundation, Scoliosis Care Foundation
Written by Dr. Matthew J Schwab
As Appeared in the Leader Telegram, Eau Claire, WI March 25th, 2007