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What You Need to Know About Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is medically defined as the lateral deviation of the spine, which might have developed from a long-term habit of poor posture.  You might not be aware of it, but you could be doing all sorts of posture compromising routines that could cause spinal misalignment in the long run. Below are a few of these instances.



The Silent Causes      

You might have carried your backpack loaded with heavy books on one shoulder because everybody seemed to carry their bags that way. You might have slept with three fluffy pillows under your head because nothing felt more heavenly than being surrounded with pillows in bed. You might have slouched for hours in your comfortable office chair because it’s more straining if you sit straight.

It makes us feel good or relaxed. The reason why we do not bother changing these bad habits. You think you’re one of the cool kids if you carry your bag on one shoulder. Too many pillows and slouching makes you feel relaxed because you use less muscles in keeping your back and other parts of the body in good alignment.

Signs and Symptoms

What’s worrisome about scoliosis is that you wouldn’t know you have it until you notice a significant curvature of your spine. This is actually its classic sign. Other than this, you will also note that your head appears off centered – it may be leaning on one side with one shoulder and that one side of your hip is higher than the other side.

Because of this curvature, it compresses your lungs, causing shortness or difficulty of breathing. This will, in turn, affect the level of oxygen that is supposed to be present in your blood. With poor oxygenation, the normal functions of your vital organs might be compromised.

You will also feel back pain or discomfort that may radiate to your neck and/or abdomen. There are specially designed chairs for back pain that could not only alleviate the pain, but can also correct the misalignment of the spine. More about the treatment below.

Treatment

Nothing beats prevention as far as combating health ailments is concerned. You should try to observe proper body posture all the time. It may be a little difficult at first, especially for someone who has been accustomed to all the bad gait routines like slouching. But it will definitely keep your spine strong and healthy.


The treatment for scoliosis depends on its severity. Here are some posture management that you can do at home or at work.
  •     Ease your spine with ergonomic chairs for back pain – There are adjustable task chairs that support your back and pelvis.  You just have to make sure that it addresses your specific posture needs and doesn’t put you in an uncomfortable sitting position.
  •     Physical therapy – Therapeutic massages and assisted movements help ease soreness of the muscles, especially at the back. It also promotes proper circulation around the affected area which could promote healing.
  •     Gentle exercises – Yoga, for example, relaxes your tensed muscles and strengthens your core. It also follows the principles of proper body alignment, which can help correct your scoliosis. You should avoid strenuous activities as these may aggravate your condition.
Remember, good habits take as much time to build up as your bad habits did. Or even more. So you have to always consider that not everything that feels good is good enough for you. Scoliosis may not be that alarming, but if left untreated, it can lead to more untoward physical conditions that could impair your daily living. 

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