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A scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine.
Shallow, gradual scolioses are common and can often simply be due to the fact that we are not symmetrical creatures, being for example right or left handed. Other common causes of scoliosis can be assymetrical use patterns, as in developing certain muscle groups more or turning more one way in work or sport.
Scolises are often neccesary adaptations to structural changes, such as slightly differing leg lenths.
The osteopath is interested in assessing the origin and consequences of these scolioses, and in the efficiency of the adaptation. An adequately flexible spine and good muscle helps the body make the appropraite postural changes.
Short term scolioses often occur as a protective reaction to damage to one part of the body, for example in a disc problem where the muscles pull the spine away from the midline to unload the damaged side of the disc. In these cases the osteopath's job is to work out the nature of the tissue damage and then assist recovery.
Organic adolescent scolises can arise in the teens as a result of abnormalities of spinal bone growth. These are recognisable by an associated rotation of the spine, causing a "high side" on the convexity of the curve. These rare cases may need surgical help |
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