Chiropractic Rehabilitation of a Scoliosis Family: Results from a 9-Year Follow-Up

Mark W Morningstar,Clayton Stitzel,Brian Dovorany,Aatif Siddiqui

doi:10.4236/ojtr.2017.51003

Abstract

Scoliosis bracing is typically prescribed when the curvature reaches to between 30° - 50°. Although there has been a vast amount of bracing literature published, the results remain equivocal. Many patients face issues of compliance, comfort, and decreased self-esteem due to social stigmas with bracing. This has caused many patients to seek non-bracing options. Although these treatments are plausible, they lack the research background that bracing has. Therefore, many physicians are reluctant to prescribe exercise-based rehabilitation for their scoliosis patients. This study reports on 3 patients who sought non-bracing, exercise-based chiropractic rehabilitation for their scoliosis. Their results before, after, and at long term follow up are included.

Highlights

In the United States, the three-dimensional spinal deformity known as scoliosis is typically treated using surgical intervention when the degree of curvature exceeds 50 ̊ [1]
This study reports on 3 patients who sought non-bracing, exercise-based chiropractic rehabilitation for their scoliosis
When the scoliosis is between 25 ̊ - 50 ̊, rigid or dynamic spinal orthosis is typically recommended as a way to prevent curvature progression [1]

Summary

Introduction

In the United States, the three-dimensional spinal deformity known as scoliosis is typically treated using surgical intervention when the degree of curvature exceeds 50 ̊ [1]. When the scoliosis is between 25 ̊ - 50 ̊, rigid or dynamic spinal orthosis is typically recommended as a way to prevent curvature progression [1]. While these treatments have a long history of publication, exercise-based therapies have offered far less published data [2]. In a recent article by Weiss [4], it was recommended that all scoliosis treatment articles that evaluate various methods contain some essential key points, including a minimum of 5-year follow-up on adult patients, a minimum of two-. According to his literature review, no exercise-based physical therapy has been published to date that incorporate these criteria [4], nor has any paper outlining a chiropractic method [3]

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion