Oftentimes, a school nurse will take a day or two to examine all the kids in his or her school for scoliosis. The screening for scoliosis in most schools involves having a child perform the Adam’s Forward Bend Test to look for unevenness or abnormalities in the shoulders, rib cage or back. Some school nurses might use a device called the scoliometer or take an X-ray. The problem with school screenings, though, is that the nurse has tons and tons of kids to examine, so he or she tends to go quickly and may not give each child the kind of attention that a chiropractor could. The signs of scoliosis are subtle. They can be easily missed!
A smart way to diagnose scoliosis is to measure the curve using the Cobb method. A positive diagnosis is determined by a curve greater than 10 degrees, with a curve greater than 25 degrees being considered significant and one exceeding 45 degrees considered severe. A proper diagnosis can involve looking at medical and family history, as well as a physical examination and X-rays of the spine.
If you’re the parent or caregiver to a child who is between the ages of 10 and 14, it’s recommended that they get screened for scoliosis. Scoliosis occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. It’s a disorder that causes an abnormal curve of the spine or backbone. There’s a normal spinal curve when looking from the side, but the spine should appear straight when looking from the front. Some of the symptoms of scoliosis include back pain and leaning to one side. Females and those with a family history of scoliosis are most at risk.
For a non-invasive option to help bring the spine back to its proper posture or to keep the spine curvature from progressing, it makes sense to visit Lakewoods Chiropractic where a child’s spine can be restored to its normal function.
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