Scoliosis Facts

A normal spine is straight when viewed from the front or the back. Normally, when viewed from the side, the spine curves backwards in the chest area (kyphosis) and forward in the waist area (Lordosis). When viewed from the top down, all of the vertebrae should be facing forward. However, with scoliosis the spine curves to one side or the other in the thoracic and/or lumbar areas. From the top looking down through the center of the spine, some of the vertebrae are twisted which causes the ribs attached to the vertebrae to protrude, usually on the right side.

Scoliosis is a condition that may appear in more than one member of a family in the same or different generations. It does not develop as a result of anything that a child or her parents did or failed to do. Poor posture or carrying a heavy book bag does not cause scoliosis. Scoliosis is a spinal deformity that usually appears during adolescence, although it may appear in younger children as well.

HOW IS IT NOTICED?

One of the most common signs of scoliosis is a prominent shoulder blade, frequently the right one. One shoulder may also be higher and the child tends to “list” to one side. The hips may be uneven and one seems to be higher than the other. Scoliosis should not be confused with poor posture. Very often the first indication of scoliosis is that there is something wrong with the fitting of clothes. This is very apparent in girls when observing the hemline of a skirt or dress. When a child with scoliosis bends forward, the appearance of a rib prominence is one of the most striking signs.

IS SCOLIOSIS VERY COMMON?

According to the Scoliosis Research Society, about 10% of the adolescent population has some degree of scoliosis. This means that about 1,000,000 children just in the United States have scoliosis. About on fourth of these children, or 2%-3%, will require medical attention which may consist of observation for further progression of the curve, bracing or surgery, depending upon the degree of the curvature at the time of its detection. Some scoliosis may be so mild that treatment may never be necessary.

Mild scoliosis occurs nearly as often in boys as in girls. More serious curves are five to eight times greater in girls than in boys.

Studies conducted throughout the world show there is a very even occurrence of scoliosis. There is virtually no variation of racial or ethnic incidence.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCOLIOSIS?

There are many causes for scoliosis. About 80%-85% of the patients have a type called IDIOPATHIC scoliosis. This means “no known cause”. Idiopathic scoliosis often runs in families and appears to be due to genetic or hereditary factors. It is not known what “triggers” the development of the curve, or why some curves progress more than others. Scoliosis may occur in children who are otherwise perfectly healthy.

Also, scoliosis may be caused by NERVE and MUSCLE DISORDERS, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and polio. Other known causes of scoliosis include: CONGENITAL which is caused by abnormalities in the formation of the vertebrae present at birth, CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISORDERS such as Marfan’s Syndrome, and CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES, such as Down’s Syndrome. Early diagnosis of the cause of scoliosis can aid in the proper treatment.

During adolescence scoliosis usually produces no pain and may be difficult to detect. Mild scoliosis may be present for several years before it is seen. One of the easiest ways to detect it is by using the forward bending examination. Most importantly, a medical professional should check the child’s spine regularly until growth is complete since scoliosis may appear at any time during adolescence. The curvature may progress considerably during the last major growth spurt.

SIMPLE HOME TEST FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF SCOLIOSIS

• Is one shoulder higher than the other?
• Is one scapula (shoulder blade) more prominent than the other?
• Does one hip seem higher or more prominent than the other?
• Is there a greater distance between the arm and the body on one side than on the other when the arms are hanging down loosely at the sides?
• Does the child have excessive "swayback" (lordosis)?
• Does the child have excessive "round shoulder" or "round back" (Kyphosis)?
• Is there a larger "crease" at one side of the waist than the other side?
• Does the child seem to "list" or lean to one side?
• When you examine the child, have them bend forward with their arms hanging down loosely with the hands even and the palms touching each other at about the level of the knees. When in this position:
• Is there a prominence or hump in the rib area?
• Is there asymmetry in the hips or waist? 

 If you have any "yes" answers or if the child has a brother, sister, parent or other close relative with scoliosis, consult your medical professional. Schubbe Resch Chiropractic and Physical Therapy – Appleton is also available to answer your questions, and a more through follow up screening can be arranged if parents find any areas of concern.

The McKenzie Method

What is the McKenzie Method for back pain and neck pain?

The McKenzie Method involves more than just exercise

Many people know about the McKenzie Method of physical therapy and exercise for back pain or neck pain, but aren’t sure exactly what the goals of the program are and what the exercises entail.

A common perception is that the McKenzie approach comprises a set of exercises that people can do on their own. While this is true, the McKenzie Method is really an overall program of assessment, treatment and prevention strategies (including exercise) that are usually best learned with a physical therapist who is trained in the method.

Overall goals for healing from back problems that cause pain

The McKenzie Method was developed in the 1960’s by Robin McKenzie, a physical therapist in New Zealand. In his practice, he noted that extending the spine could provide significant pain relief to certain patients and allow them to return to their normal daily activities.

With the McKenzie approach, physical therapy and exercise used to extend the spine can help "centralize" the patient’s pain by moving it away from the extremities (leg or arm) to the back. Back pain is usually better tolerated than leg pain or arm pain, and the theory of the approach is that centralizing the pain allows the source of the pain to be treated rather than the symptoms.

A central tenet of the McKenzie Method is that self-healing and self-treatment are important for the patient’s pain relief and rehabilitation. No passive modalities—such as heat, cold, ultrasound, medicine or needles—are used in the treatment.

The long-term goal of the McKenzie Method is to teach patients suffering from neck pain and/or back pain how to treat themselves and manage their own pain for life using exercise and other strategies. Other goals include:

• Reduce pain quickly
• Return to normal functioning in daily activities
• Minimize the risk of recurring pain (avoid painful postures and movements)
• Minimize the number of return visits to the spine specialist

The movement of pain from the extremities to the back will not occur with all patients. The McKenzie Method is designed to help patients where the pain does "centralize." Also, for some patients, such as those with lumbar spinal stenosis or facet joint osteoarthritis, extending the spine may actually increase their pain.

Is Pain Your Obstacle to Fitness? Chiropractic Can Help

Are aches and pains getting in the way of your weight loss goals? Schubbe Resch Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Centers in Appleton and Neenah can help. This fall, doctors of chiropractic across the country will highlight how they can help patients focus on getting past the roadblocks to fitness and better health during National Chiropractic Health Month. The theme for the 2010 observance is “Why Weight? Get Healthy!”

More than 60 percent of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese, according to CDC statistics, and obesity is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and some types of cancer. However, many people are unaware that even modest weight loss, such as 5 to 10 percent of a person’s total body weight, could improve blood pressure as well as blood cholesterol and blood sugars levels. That’s only 10 to 20 pounds for a person who weighs 200 pounds.

Yet losing weight can be a struggle, and many people wonder where to begin. The answer for some may be in the office of a doctor of chiropractic (DC). “Diet pills and extreme diets do not offer long-term solutions,” says Dr. Rick McMichael, president of the American Chiropractic Association. “Doctors of chiropractic, on the other hand, offer natural approaches such as exercise, diet and hands-on care to help keep you active and able to achieve your weight-loss goals in the short term, and also help you maintain your fitness level and thereby avoid some chronic conditions down the line.”

Consultation with a DC is particularly important when you consider that the effects of obesity on the musculoskeletal system—osteoarthritis, back pain, neck pain and joint pain—often cause overweight people to avoid physical activity and exercise when they need it most.

“If you’re carrying more weight than the load-bearing structures of your body—spine, legs, etc.—can handle, there’s going to be pain, loss of movement and degeneration in the joints,” adds Dr. Peter Schubbe. “Particularly if you’re carrying most of your weight in your abdomen, the low back and the spine will need to work harder to hold you upright. This adds extra stress and tension on your muscles, which in turn creates stiffness.”

Sponsored by ACA, National Chiropractic Health Month is held each October. The event helps raise public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care and its natural, whole-person, patient-centered approach to health and wellness.

Over the years, Schubbe Resch has built an exceptional reputation with local patients and physicians that is unsurpassed in the Fox Cities region. For more information about how Schubbe Resch can help you achieve better overall health and wellness, please visit www.schubberesch.com or contact patientservices@schubbeappleton.com .

Chronic Pain

If you suffer from chronic pain, chiropractic care may help you.  While you may be able to struggle through your essential duties, there is not much you can enjoy when your head aches or your back or neck hurts constantly.  To get on with life, many people take pain relievers like aspirin or the newer but similar drugs including Advil, Motrin, Aleve, and other brands.  Unfortunately, these do nothing but cover up the problem.  Worse yet, these drugs can have serious side effects if taken regularly over time.

There is a better way to handle chronic pain - chiropractic care gets to the cause of the pain and has virtually no side effects.  Chiropractic care is well know to work wonders with chronic and acute pack pain, but it is also effective with many headaches, neck pain, whiplash injuries, on the job injuries, and other painful conditions.  The best part is that chiropractic care gets to the root of the problem rather than covering it up like drugs.

Heat Therapy for Back Pain Relief

Ice massage and ice application is generally most helpful during the acute pain phase following an injury that strains the back muscles. After this initial period, heat therapy is probably more beneficial to the healing process. For some people, alternating heat therapy with cold application such as ice massage therapy provides the most pain relief. Cold therapy should be utilized as long as acute pain is present – not just during the first 48 hours following an injury.

Benefits of heat therapy

Moist heat, such as a warm bath or whirlpool, is thought to aid the healing process by increasing circulation and relaxing muscle spasms. Whether one uses moist heat or dry heat, the desired effect is for the heat to penetrate down into the muscles. When warmth and heat penetrate the injured and sore muscles, this provides the dual benefits of:

• Relaxing the back muscles (to reduce painful spasms)
• Facilitating stretching the injured tissues to reduce stiffness.

In addition, heat therapy is both inexpensive and easy to do.  Several types of heat application are readily available and include heating pads, hot water bottles, commercial heat wraps, hot baths, warm gel packs, and more.

Precautions for heat therapy

As with ice application, when applying heat therapy, care should be taken to avoid burning the skin. Any type of heat source should be “warm”, not hot, to avoid burning the skin. Also, it is cautioned never to fall asleep with the heating pad on. As with ice therapy, it is important to always use a protective barrier, such as a towel, between the heat and the skin to avoid burning the skin.

Please note that heat should not be used in certain circumstances. For example, if the lower back is swollen or bruised, heat should not be used and it is better to use a cold pack to reduce the inflammation or swelling in the area. Patients should consult with their chiropractic physician if they have heart disease or hypertension. In general, heat therapy should also not be used if the patient has dermatitis, deep vein thrombosis, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, an open wound, or severe cognitive impairment. There is no exact prescription for ice and heat therapy, but common usage is 20 minutes on followed by 45-60 minutes off – repeating this cycle as often as possible.  If either ice or heat therapy cause an increase in pain, stop using the pain causing therapy immediately, and continue to use the other one alone.

Ice Massage Therapy for Back Pain Relief

Ice massage therapy
For patients experiencing back pain, ice massage therapy is quick, free, easy to do, and it can provide significant pain relief for many types of back pain.  In a world of sophisticated medical care, a simple ice massage can still be one of the more effective, proven methods to treat a sore back or neck, either alone or in combination with other treatments.

Most episodes of back pain are caused by muscle strain.  The large paired muscles in the low back (erector spinae) help hold up the spine, and with an injury, the muscles can become inflamed and spasm, causing low back pain and significant stiffness.

Common causes of muscle strain to the low back muscles include:

• A sudden movement
• An awkward fall
• Incorrect lifting of a heavy object
• A sports injury

While it sounds like a simple injury, a muscle strain can create a surprising amount of pain.  In fact, this type of injury is one of the most common reasons people go to the emergency room.  However, not much can be done for a strained back muscle except for rest (up to two days), pain relief medications, and to use ice and/or heat application.  This article discusses how and when to use ice massage therapy  for quick relief of back pain caused by muscle strain.

How ice massage therapy provides pain relief

Ice massages can help provide relief for back pain in a number of ways, including:

• Ice application slows the inflammation and swelling that occurs after injury.  Most back pain is accompanied by some type of inflammation, and addressing the inflammation helps reduce pain
• Ice massage therapy numbs sore tissues (providing pain relief like a local anesthetic)
• Ice massage therapy slows the nerve impulses in the area, which interrupts the pain-spasm reaction between the nerves

Ice massage therapy is most effective if it is applied as soon as possible after the injury occurs.  The cold makes the veins in the tissue contract, reducing circulation.  Once the cold is removed, the veins overcompensate and dilate and blood rushes to the area.  The blood brings with it the necessary nutrients to allow the injured back muscles, ligaments, and tendons to heal.

As with all pain relief treatments, there are some cautions with applying ice and using ice massage therapy.  Never apply ice directly to the skin.  Instead, be sure that there is a protective barrier between the ice and skin, such as a towel.  Limit the ice application to no more than fifteen or twenty minutes.  Additionally, ice should also not be used for patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud's Syndrome, cold allergic conditions, paralysis, or areas of impaired sensation.

The Benefits of Vitamin D

There are few foods that naturally contain vitamin D – salmon, tuna, mackerel and fish oils are the best sources.  Thankfully, you can also get Vitamin D from a daily dose of sunshine, or from supplements.

If you are trying to get your vitamin D from exposure to the sun, you will need about 10-15 minutes per day outside in the sun.  Sunscreen will prevent you from getting adequate exposure, so try spending the first 10-15 minutes outdoors without sunscreen.  Just be sure to apply after that to prevent unnecessary burns.

You can also get your vitamin D from fortified foods such as milk, or take a quality vitamin D supplement.  The usual recommendation is 400 IU (international units) but many nutritionists recommend as much as 1000 IU.

Vitamin D has been shown to play a number of roles in our health.  It promotes the absorption of calcium, which increases bone health.  It boosts your body’s immune function.  Vitamin D can reduce inflammation, and also protect against some forms of cancer.

Our office sells two different Vitamin D formulations:

• D3 1000 IU by Metagenics offers a high potency vitamin D3, which is the most bio-active form of supplemental vitamin D available.
• We also offer D3 5000 IU  for patients who have low vitamin D levels and need a higher dosage.