Wednesday, August 27, 2003

Scoliosis:Dangerous curves, for juniors and seniors

In conjunction with the upcoming Sept. 8­10 open house celebrating the anniversary of the opening of the Durden Chiropractic Clinic, scoliosis screenings and school bag safety screenings will be performed at no charge.

Parents of school-aged children are aware that their children are required to carry heavy book bags but may not realize that there are guidelines for what is safe to carry.Early detection and treatment of Scoliosis will promote increased well-being during growth periods and in later life.

Last year when we performed scoliosis screenings, a number of seniors came to the event and were found to have this problem.Though treated successfully, the importance of early intervention, once again confronted me. Although we were able to obtain relief for these patients, the years of wear and tear on the spinal joints from years of misalignment were obvious.

When I read the following article about recent research, my thoughts and continual education of my current patients and the community were confirmed.It is never too late; however, this is a situation where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Dangerous Curves

Everybody's spine naturally curves in a front-to-back fashion, which can be seen in the normal rounding of the shoulders and the depression of the lower back. However, up to 20 percent of the adult population suffers from scoliosis - an abnormal curvature of the spine often characterized by an "S"-shaped, side-to-side deformity. Many people with abnormal spinal curvature never suffer any symptoms, but for others, the curve gets worse over time and causes pain, limits normal activities and complicates breathing and circulation. How do these people with spinal degeneration perceive their health?

In a recent study, approximately 50 adults with scoliosis completed general health questionnaires and received a clinical and diagnostic evaluation.Patients were further analyzed in two groups, based on the degree of spinal curvature. Data were compared to those from the general population; from people ages 55-64; and from patients with low-back pain or hypertension.

The average age for adults with scoliosis was 63 years. Overall, general health scores of patients with adult scoliosis were significantly lower than scores in all health categories compared to the general population, and in most categories compared to the 55- to 64-year-old group and patients with back pain or hypertension. Loss of proper spinal curvature was most significantly linked to lower scores for social function, emotional well being and general health.

Adult scoliosis is becoming a significant health problem, primarily affecting the fastest-growing segment of our society - the elderly. You can avoid the debilitating symptoms of scoliosis, however. A chiropractor can examine your spine for proper curvature and provide you with the advice necessary for maintaining a healthy back.

(Reference: Schwab F, Dubey A, et al. Adult scoliosis: A health assessment analysis by SF-36. Spine 2003:28(6), pp. 602-606.)

Since obtaining and maintaining spinal health is the goal of chiropractic care, we are committed to educating the community about how to prevent injury by detecting and treating problems before they become serious health issues.

Dr. Marilyn L. Durden

(Dr. Durden will present a Community Service Health Talk about "Scoliosis: Dangerous Curves" Thursday, Aug. 28, at 3 p.m. at Heritage of Peachtree Retirement and Assisted Living Center.You are invited to attend. A scoliosis screening is available to you after the talk.

For a scoliosis screening or a school bag safety screening at the open house, call 770-631-7600 for an appointment.)