Scoliosis
What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a medical condition where your spine is curved from side to side. The spine-shape of a person with typical scoliosis may look more like an “S” than a straight line.  Approximately 2% of the population will have a scoliotic curvature in their spine, and about 10% of these are severe.
Scoliosis terminology is according to where the apex of the curvature of the spine occurs. Most commonly, these curves happen in the thoracic (mid-back) and thoracolumbar (junction between the thoracic and lumbar) areas of the spine. Scoliosis does not frequently occur in the neck.
Early adolescence, specifically between 11 and 14 years of age is the ideal time to screen your spine for scoliosis. Scoliosis can progress during adulthood if not treated during youth. Therefore, being checked and treated at any stage can significantly improve your comfort, muscular strength and mobility.
What Causes Scoliosis?
Several types of scoliosis exist:
Structural (Idiopathic) scoliosis has genetic roots. A family history of scoliosis, particularly along the female side, can increase your likelihood of having it by up to 20%. Idiopathic scoliosis usually develops in early adolescence between the ages of 11-14, with a higher incidence occurring in females than males (10:1). Progression of scoliosis is also more common in females than males. If left undiagnosed and untreated in adolescence, the curvature of the spine can progress.
Functional scoliosis can develop in adulthood, often in response to an injury or repetitive practice of asymmetrical activities (i.e. tennis, golf swing, etc.). It is a curvature of the spine that has formed from overuse of muscles on one side and underuse of muscles on the reciprocal side. Since it is muscular based, it can reverse with appropriate treatment and exercise.
Pathology-related scoliosis can arise in people with a neuromuscular disease. Examples include muscular dystrophy or response to a severe injury to the spinal cord such as quadriplegia.
What are the Symptoms of Scoliosis?
Physical signs in children after the age of 8 that parents should suspect is scoliosis:
- Uneven hips
- Uneven shoulders
- The one-shoulder blade being more prominent than the other.
- Listing (bending) to one side
- Pain around the areas above imbalanced areas.
Contrary to common belief, scoliosis does not result from poor posture. However, it can progress to a more severe curve as a result of an inferior position of weak spinal muscles.
How is Scoliosis Diagnosed?
Checking for scoliosis usually is undertaken during a routine clinical examination by your physiotherapist or doctor.
Your physiotherapist will examine your spine, shoulders, rib cage, pelvis, legs and feet for abnormalities and asymmetry. If they suspect significant scoliosis, they will arrange for X-rays to confirm your cobb angle – or severity of scoliosis.
Significant curvature in the spine detected in adolescence will require a review from an orthopaedic spine specialist. Please seek the advice of your doctor or back physiotherapist.
Scoliosis Treatment
PHASE I – Pain Alleviation
While not all scoliosis sufferers experience pain or discomfort, a percentage do. In these patients, the provision of pain relief does assist with patient compliance with corrective or prevention exercises.
Pain relief can result from a variety of techniques:
- electrotherapy modalities (ultrasound, TENs),
- acupuncture,
- release of tight muscles, and
- supportive postural taping.
In this phase, your physiotherapist may also introduce gentle exercises to maintain mobility in your spine as well as enhance your posture while your pain settles.
PHASE II – Rectifying Imbalances (Strengthening and Stretching!)
As your pain and inflammation settle, your physiotherapist will turn their attention to optimising the strength and flexibility of your muscles on either side of scoliosis. They will also include adjacent areas such as the hip and shoulder region that may impact upon your spinal alignment.
The main treatment aims will include restoring normal spine range of motion, muscle length and resting tension, muscle strength, endurance and core stability.
Taping techniques may assist until adequate strength and flexibility in the targeted muscles has been achieved.
PHASE III – Restoring Full Function
This scoliosis treatment phase gears towards ensuring that you resume most of your normal daily activities. Activities, including sports and recreational activities without re-aggravation of your symptoms.
Depending on your chosen work, sport or activities of daily living, your physiotherapist will aim to restore your function to allow you to return to your desired activities safely.
Everyone has different demands for their body that will determine what specific treatment goals you need to achieve. For some, it may be only to walk around the block. Others may wish to run a marathon. Your physiotherapist will tailor your back rehabilitation to help you achieve your own functional goals.
PHASE IV – Preventing a Recurrence
Since scoliosis in many cases is a permanent structural change in the skeleton, ongoing self-management is paramount to preventing re-exacerbation of your symptoms. Self-management will include a routine of a few critical exercises to maintain optimal strength, flexibility, core stability and postural support. Your physiotherapist will assist you in identifying which are the best exercises to continue in the long-term.
In addition to your muscle control, your physiotherapist will assess your hip biomechanics. If you would benefit from any exercises for adjacent muscles or some foot orthotics to address to correct for biomechanical faults, you will be p[rescribed relevant activities. Some scoliosis results from an unequal leg length, which your therapist may treat with a heel raise, shoe rise or a built-up foot orthotic.
Rectifying these deficits and learning self-management techniques is key to maintaining function and ongoing participation in your daily and sporting activities. Your physiotherapist will guide you.
What Results Can You Expect?
If you have mild to moderate scoliosis, you can expect a full return to regular daily, sporting and recreational activities. Your return to function is more promising when your diagnosis and treatment commences early.
Individuals with more moderate to severe scoliosis curvatures may need to wear an orthopaedic brace to halt curve progression. In some severe cases during adolescence, surgery is indicated. Both of these latter two pathways are overseen by an orthopaedic specialist who may require monitoring the progress of the curve with routine X-rays.
Please seek the advice of your trusted scoliosis physiotherapist or spinal surgeon to determine your best scoliosis treatment.
Joint Injuries
Muscle-related Injuries
Bone-related Injuries
- Scheuermann's Disease
- Scoliosis
- Spondylosis
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Osteoporosis
- Rib Stress Fracture
Disc-related Injuries
Nerve-related / Referred Pain
Systemic Diseases
General Information
Scoliosis FAQ’s
Article by P.Xu
As we slowly start getting into the cooler seasons, many people will begin to notice sore joints waking up in the morning, or that movement has become stiff, or even headaches increasing in frequency or severity. Why is this?
It turns out that cold weather can have a significant impact on your body’s tissues. Notably, the connective tissue gives our muscles and joints the ability to move as they do, called elastin. As the name suggests, elastin is one of the critical components that provide our joints and muscles with the ability to bend, stretch, and move as they need to get you through the day.
What is Physiotherapy Treatment?
Physiotherapists help people affected by illness, injury or disability through exercise, manual joint therapy, soft tissue techniques education and advice. Physiotherapists maintain physical health, allow patients to manage pain and prevent disease for people of all ages. Physiotherapists help encourage pain-relief, injury recovery, enabling people to stay playing a sport, working or performing daily living activities while assisting them to remain functionally independent.
There is a multitude of different physiotherapy treatment approaches.
Acute & Sub-Acute Injury Management
Hands-On Physiotherapy Techniques
Your physiotherapist's training includes hands-on physiotherapy techniques such as:
- Joint Mobilisation (gentle joint gliding techniques)
- Joint Manipulation
- Physiotherapy Instrument Mobilisation (PIM)
- Minimal Energy Techniques (METs)
- Massage
- Soft Tissue Techniques
Your physiotherapist has skilled training. Physiotherapy techniques have expanded over the past few decades. They have researched, upskilled and educated themselves in a spectrum of allied health skills. These skills include techniques shared with other healthcare practitioners. Professions include exercise physiologists, remedial massage therapists, osteopaths, acupuncturists, kinesiologists, chiropractors and occupational therapists, to name a few.
Physiotherapy Taping
Your physiotherapist is a highly skilled professional who utilises strapping and taping techniques to prevent and assist injuries or pain relief and function.
Alternatively, your physiotherapist may recommend a supportive brace.
Acupuncture and Dry Needling
Many physiotherapists have acquired additional training in acupuncture and dry needling to assist pain relief and muscle function.
Physiotherapy Exercises
Physiotherapists have been trained in the use of exercise therapy to strengthen your muscles and improve your function. Physiotherapy exercises use evidence-based protocols where possible as an effective way that you can solve or prevent pain and injury. Your physiotherapist is highly-skilled in the prescription of the "best exercises" for you and the most appropriate "exercise dose" for you, depending on your rehabilitation status. Your physiotherapist will incorporate essential components of pilates, yoga and exercise physiology to provide you with the best result. They may even use Real-Time Ultrasound Physiotherapy so that you can watch your muscles contract on a screen as you correctly retrain them.
- Muscle Stretching
- Core Exercises
- Strengthening Exercises
- Neurodynamics
- Balance Exercises
- Proprioception Exercises
- Real-Time Ultrasound Physiotherapy
- Swiss Ball Exercises
Biomechanical Analysis
Biomechanical assessment, observation and diagnostic skills are paramount to the best treatment. Your physiotherapist is a highly skilled health professional. They possess superb diagnostic skills to detect and ultimately avoid musculoskeletal and sports injuries. Poor technique or posture is one of the most common sources of a repeat injury.
Hydrotherapy
Aquatic water exercises are an effective method to provide low bodyweight exercises.
Sports Physiotherapy
Sports physio requires an extra level of knowledge and physiotherapy to assist injury recovery, prevent injury and improve performance. For the best advice, consult a Sports Physiotherapist.
Vestibular Physiotherapy
Women's Health
Women's Health Physiotherapy is a particular interest group of therapies.
Workplace Physiotherapy
Not only can your physiotherapist assist you in sport, but they can also help you at work. Ergonomics looks at the best postures and workstation set up for your body at work or home. Whether it be lifting technique improvement, education programs or workstation setups, your physiotherapist can help you.
Electrotherapy
Plus Much More
Your physiotherapist is a highly skilled body mechanic. A physiotherapist has particular interests in certain injuries or specific conditions. For advice regarding your problem, please contact your PhysioWorks team.
What is the PhysioWorks Difference?
You'll be impressed with the experienced physiotherapists, massage therapists and reception staff who represent PhysioWorks. To ensure that we remain highly qualified, we are committed to participating in continuing education to provide optimal care. If you've been searching for health practitioners with a serious interest in your rehabilitation or injury prevention program, our staff have either participated or are still participating in competitive sports at a representative level. We also currently provide physiotherapy and massage services for numerous sports clubs. Our experience helps us understand what you need to do to safely and quickly return to youryouryour sporting field, home duties, or employment.How You'll Benefit from the PhysioWorks Difference?
At PhysioWorks physiotherapy and massage clinics, we strive to offer our clients quick, effective and long-lasting results by providing high-quality treatment. We aim to get you better quicker in a friendly and caring environment conducive to successful healing. With many years of clinical experience, our friendly service and quality treatment is a benchmark not only in Brisbane but Australia-wide.What are Some of the BIG Differences?
Our therapists pride themselves on keeping up to date with the latest research and treatment skills to ensure that they provide you with the most advantageous treatment methods. They are continually updating their knowledge via seminars, conferences, workshops, scientific journals etc. Not only will you receive a detailed consultation, but we offer long-term solutions, not just quick fixes that in reality, only last for a short time. We attempt to treat the cause, not just the symptoms. PhysioWorks clinics are modern thinking. Not only in their appearance but in the equipment we use and in our therapists' knowledge. Our staff care about you! We are always willing to go that 'extra mile' to guarantee that we cater to our clients' unique needs. All in all, we feel that your chances of the correct diagnosis, the most effective treatment and the best outcomes are all the better at PhysioWorks.Youth Spinal Pain
Teenager Neck & Back Pain
Teenagers can be particularly vulnerable to back pain, mainly due to a combination of high flexibility and low muscle strength and posture control.Â
The competitive athlete and most individuals who exercise regularly or maintain a level of fitness and core stability control are less prone to spine injury and problems due to the strength and flexibility of supporting structures. Your physiotherapist can assist the resolution of any deficits in this area. Luckily, issues involving the lower lumbar spine are rare in athletes and account for less than 10% of sports-related injuries. Injuries do occur in contact sports and with repetitive strain sports.
Sports such as gymnastics, cricket fast bowlers, and tennis have a higher incidence of associated lumbar spine problems related to repetitive twisting and hyper-bending motions.
Spondylolisthesis is a significant concern and needs to be appropriately treated by a physiotherapist with a particular interest in these type of injuries. Luckily, most injuries are minor, self-limited, and respond quickly to physiotherapy treatment.
Common Adolescent Spinal Injuries
Lower Back (Lumbar Spine)
Midback (Thoracic Spine)
Neck (Cervical Spine)
Pelvis
For specific advice regarding youth neck or back pain, please seek the professional advice of your trusted spinal physiotherapist or doctor. Common Youth & Teenager Sports Injuries Common Youth Leg Injuries Common Youth Arm InjuriesBack & Neck Pain Prevention Tips
Here's some beneficial advice to help you prevent back pain and enjoy life to the maximum.Posture
I'm afraid that your mother was right. If you slouch, you'll end up with problems. Just one of those problems is back pain. You'll find other problems elsewhere on this website. Think "Grow Tall". Imagine that you have a string screwed onto the back of your head, just above your hairline. Then think that someone is dragging you up off the chair you are sitting on. Hold this "grow tall" position for 10 seconds and repeat every half hour. As well as greatly reducing your chances of back pain you'll note that your chest has lifted, shoulders are relaxed, the chin is tucked in, the head is level and stomach muscles have contracted. Not bad for such a simple exercise. This posture can be repeated in sitting, standing, sleeping, walking or running. Try it, and the physio will work for you too!Lifting
The best method to avoid back pain from lifting is delegation. If this isn't an option for you, try the following:- Use back support to lift loads over 15 to 20kg.
- Bend at the hips and knees with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Firmly grip the load and hold it close to your body.
- Think "grow tall" to tighten your stomach muscles and look upwards to straighten your back.
- Stand using your strong thigh and buttock muscles to lift.
- Once upright, turn by using your feet. Avoid twisting your back.
Sitting
Use the "grow tall" principle each 15 to 30 minutes while sitting. A supportive chair or lower back cushion is essential if you must sit. If possible, don't stay seated for too long. Regularly stand up, stretch your back and walk short distances for a variety of posture. After all, we were designed for hunting and foraging - not sit in front of a computer!Exercise
Fitness has many benefits. Stronger, more flexible muscles and less weight to stress the bones and discs. PhysioWorks specialises in the provision of exercise programs to keep your back flexible, strong and pain-free. Exercise can involve aspects of flexibility, strengthening and postural control. Consider Real-Time Ultrasound Retraining to ensure you are doing it right!Sleeping
A quality pillow and mattress are necessary for a healthy spine. You do spend somewhere between one-quarter (1/4) and one-third (1/3) of your life sleeping. Do it in comfort! You'll need to consider a new mattress if you wake up through the night or in the morning with back pain. Please ask your PhysioWorks therapist for advice at your next visit.Driving
Use the "grow tall" principle each 15 to 30 minutes while driving. The combination of sitting and bumpy roads is a recipe for back pain. AÂ lower back cushion is essential if you must drive any distance. If possible, don't stay seated for too long. Regularly break your travels to have a walk and perform simple stretching exercises for a variety of posture and a healthy spine. After all, we were designed for hunting and foraging - not sit in front of a computer!What are the Symptoms of a Heart Attack?
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort or heaviness in the chest's centre that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one (commonly left) or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Other signs include breaking out in nausea or vomiting, cold sweat, or dizziness/lightheadedness.
If you think you or someone with you is having a heart attack, Call 000 Immediately!
Don't wait longer than a few minutes (no more than five) before calling for help. Call 000. Get to a hospital urgently.
