Scoliosis is one of the musculoskeletal problems of some people. Some notice that their shoulders are of different levels and they complain of pain at times, to the point that they are being disturbed with their daily activities. The following are the causes, signs and symptoms, and home remedies for scoliosis.
Causes
Scoliosis has various causes. According to Web MD, although scoliosis may have an idiopathic or unknown cause, some kinds of scoliosis have definite causes. As per the publication, these include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, birth defects, infections, tumors, family history, and genetic conditions like Down syndrome and Marfan syndrome. According to Medical News Today, scoliosis may also be congenital in nature, in which the bones in the spine abnormally develop when the fetus was growing inside the mother. As per the publication, other potential causes include carrying backpacks or satchels, injuries, and bad posture.
Signs and Symptoms
In general, scoliosis presents a number of signs and symptoms. According to Mayo Clinic, these include uneven shoulders, uneven waist, and one hip higher than the other. As per Medical News Today, symptoms also vary in infants and adolescents. According to the publication, infants may present a bulge on one side of the chest, consistently lie curved to one side, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Meanwhile, scoliosis in adolescents may be evidenced by asymmetric ribcage, a head slightly off center, one hip more prominent than the other, and leaning to one side.
Home Remedies
Treatment is based on the intensity of the deformed curvature, as well as some individual factors. As per Mayo Clinic, they include age, gender, curve pattern, and curve location. However, supportive management to the condition can be done through home remedies.
Braces
One of the remedies for scoliosis is the use of braces. According to Mayo Clinic, the physician may advise the use of the equipment in children, since their bones may still be growing. While it does not cure the condition or reverse the curve, it usually stops the progress of the curve, as per the publication. Usually, braces are made up of plastic and is designed to suit the person’s body shape. They are also nearly invisible under the clothes, since they fit under the arms and around the ribcage, lower back, and hips.
Posture Improvement
Another remedy that may correct scoliosis is the improvement of posture. According to Search Home Remedy, poor posture increases the biomechanical stress on the spine. As per the publication, this can be relieved by using two sets of school textbooks (to prevent one-sided leaning), avoiding sleeping on the abdomen or stomach (to prevent curve and pain in mid and lower back), trampolines (to prevent postural collapse), and wearing high heels (to prevent scoliosis through lumbar lordosis), among others. A good practice is to regularly perform simple exercises, such as stretching, to alleviate the symptoms of the disorder.
Stretching
Aside from improving one’s posture, stretching stands as another remedy for scoliosis. According to Health Line, the person may drive his body in the direction it is already bending to stretch further. As per the publication, this is pull back the muscle the person is stretching. Another way is to lean to the right if the spine leans to the left. As per California-based personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist Rocky Snyder, as cited by the publication, this is to stimulate muscles that have gone lax.
Scoliosis is one of the common disorders of the muscuoloskeletal skeletal system and it presents a deformed spine curvature and pain, which affects a person’s activities of daily living. Thus, it is best to consult a doctor for proper assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation.
