Scoliosis Reduction and Rehabilitation
What About the Medical Model for Treating Scoliosis?
The current medical model for scoliosis involves the following:
- If a scoliotic curve is between 0 - 25 degrees, the medical doctor will monitor and observe with no treatment. The purpose of observation is simply to ascertain whether or not the curve is stable or increasing over the time of observation.
- If the scoliotic curve is between 25 - 40 degrees, rigid bracing is recommended.
- If the scoliosis is greater than 40 degrees, the patient is immediately recommended for surgery.
The intention of the medical model for scoliosis care comes from a good place. The intent is, of course, to help. However, simply observing whether or not the curve is progressing is a passive approach that may result in an increase in the scoliosis over time. Rigid bracing has been shown to have questionable results. When wearing a rigid brace for 23 hours out of the day, there is a great amount of discomfort for the person wearing it. Furthemore, by housing the upper body in a rigid brace, muscles atrophy over time, weakening the core muscles that support the spine and thorso.
Surgery is the final option. For extreme cases, surgery may make the most sense. If a scoliosis progresses to the point where it begins to cause problems with the lungs (breathing), and it begins to affect the function of other internal organs, surgery may be the most affective alternative.
However, surgery involves a very invasive procedure where steel rods are inserted into the spine to straighten it. In this procedure, bone is shaved and removed, muscle tissue is excised, and the rod is inserted with wires and pins. Realize something very important here. When you remove bone, muscle, and other tissues, those tissues will not grow back. They are removed forever.
But, that's not where it ends. Scientific research on the outcomes of scoliosis surgery indicate that some 40% of individuals who have undergone surgery are left debiliated within the first 17 years following surgery. Furthermore, scientific research indicates that the average curvature before surgery is 71 degrees, and in many cases is only reduced to 44 degrees. That is something that is done with conservative care quite frequently, so there is no need to make a hasty decision when it comes to having surgery.
A conservative approach is the best way to get started. The CLEAR method has a track record of proven results.
Lastly, educate yourself. Don't just take our word for it. Go to the CLEAR Institute website. Go onto Google and do a search with the key words "scoliosis treatment," or "non-surgical treatment for scoliosis," or " scoliosis surgery," or "scoliosis research," and/or whatever keywords you can think of to find the information you need to be fully informed. Your most powerful tool is your knowledge. The more you know about scoliosis, and the more research you do, the more empowered you are and the more capable you will be at making a proper, informed decision.
Scoliosis Information Resources
The Janzen and Janzen Approach for the Treatment of Scoliosis
Janzen and Janzen has recently become certified by the CLEAR Institute for the treatment and rehabilitation of scoliosis. We are virtually the only CLEAR Certified scoliosis treatment center in the San Francisco Bay area. The rehabilitation program we employ reduces and stabilizes scoliotic curves without bracing or surgery. What's most important is that we take a conservative approach. That means we do it non-surgically.
Why Start with a Conservative Approach?
The early stages of scoliosis, when the curve is between 0-25 degrees, is the best time to begin conservative care, because the muscles and tissues have not been deformed for many months or years as the body attempts to compensate for the abnormal twisting and bending of the spine.
If the scoliosis is 25 or more degrees, it's likely the individual has had their scoliosis for quite some time. This means the tissues have changed from their normal state as a response to the twisting and bending. Again, the conservative approach is the best first option.
There are many benefits to treating scoliosis conservatively. Most importantly it is non-surgical.
What's involved in the Conservative Plan?
As a CLEAR Institute Certified Doctor of Chiropractic, we have a complete protocol designed to induce cyclical motion and low frequency vibration into the ligamentous structures of the spine. This motion and vibration "unlocks" the curvature in your spine, enabling our doctor's specific spinal adjustments and precision instrumentation to take effect. Traction and spinal de-rotation instruments are implemented thoughout the procedure. The final stage of each treatment involves vibrational neuro-muscular re-training and specific exercises.
For more detailed information about how Janzen and Janzen's scoliosis doctors treat its scoliosis patients, please go to the CLEAR Institute website. The CLEAR website fully outlines the procedures, and provides complete details, videos, and customer testimonials which further support the treatment methods Janzen and Janzen Chiropractic utilize. |
