A Harrington rod for scoliosis is instrumentation used in spinal fusion; it's attached to the spine with the goal of holding it in a straighter position so its vertebrae can't become more tilted over time. Harrington rods implanted are permanent, and if one fails or malfunctions in some way, there is no reversing the procedure. Surgical intervention for scoliosis has been in place for many years, and this has involved the use of a Harrington rod that's commonly attached to the spine with small hooks. Spinal fusion carries some serious potential risks that should be weighed carefully against th ..read more

If the spine becomes excessively straight, this is contrary to its natural curved design. It's the spine's healthy curves that keep it flexible, strong, and able to handle stress from impact and movement. The position and alignment of the spine affects body position and posture, so one of the main effects of straight-back syndrome is postural deviation. The spine's natural curves allow it to function optimally, but if the thoracic spine loses its healthy level of kyphosis and becomes excessively straight, this is known as straight back syndrome (SBS) and can be problematic. Before defining and ..read more

As scoliosis was first described and documented in the ancient world, the medical community has had many years to observe how it progresses, what triggers it to do so, and how the condition responds to treatment. Swimming can’t treat scoliosis, and while recreational swimming can offer some therapeutic benefits, certain aspects of swimming, and/or swimming competitively, aren’t recommended for some patients. Swimming was once thought to be a form of treatment for scoliosis, but we’ve since learned that scoliosis progression is more about growth than gravity.  Swimming can help with pain r ..read more

A spine with its healthy curves in place will appear straight from the front and/or back and have a soft ‘S’ shape when viewed from either side, and if those curves fall with a healthy range, this means that the spine’s vertebrae are aligned as they should be. If an unnatural spinal curvature develops, the spine is no longer aligned and can cause a number of symptoms felt throughout the body. Part of the spine’s ability to function optimally is based on its natural curves and alignment. Hypolordosis refers to a loss of the spine’s healthy inward curve in the cervical or lumbar spinal sections ..read more

The spine’s natural and healthy curves are key to preserving optimal spinal health, strength, and function. If the spine loses one of its healthy curves, the biomechanics of the entire spine are disrupted as the health of each spinal curve is affected by the condition on the other spinal curves. Lumbar refers to the lower back, and lordosis refers to a spinal curve that bends inwards, making a standard ‘C’ shape. There is a healthy range of lumbar lordosis, but if it becomes excessive and falls beyond a normal range, this is problematic and can cause a swayback appearance. Before specifically ..read more

There are a number of spinal conditions that cause the development of unhealthy curves, but structural spinal conditions involve abnormalities within the spine itself, and this involves its vertebrae (bones). Continue reading to learn why scoliosis can’t simply correct itself, along with what progression means. As a progressive structural spinal condition, the nature of scoliosis is to get worse over time, and while this means the condition is incurable, it can be highly treatable; however, scoliosis will neither go away, nor fix itself; only proactive treatment can do that. In order to better ..read more

For people recently diagnosed with scoliosis, they have a lot of questions, one of which is how best to treat the condition. Reversing scoliosis means reducing the size of the unnatural spinal curve as this is addressing the condition’s underlying structural nature. The two main scoliosis treatment approaches offer a surgical, or non-surgical response. For those interested in a non-invasive more-natural approach to reversing scoliosis, there is the option of conservative chiropractic-centered treatment. Before a treatment approach can be decided upon, conditions have to be classified according ..read more

When it comes to maintaining optimal spinal health, the spine’s natural and healthy curves need to be in place. Kyphosis refers to the spine’s outward curve at the thoracic section, and if this curve becomes excessive, it can cause a roundback appearance. Kyphosis involves the development of an excessive spinal curvature of the thoracic spine; treatment needs are case-specific and based on condition type, but can involve a combination of chiropractic care and kyphosis-specific exercises that can achieve postural remodeling and increase core strength. The main goal of treating any spinal condit ..read more

Scoliosis is a highly-prevalent spinal condition that’s been around for hundreds of years. As our understanding of the condition has grown over those years, so too has our experience with different types of treatment. We also understand what a right- versus a left-bending scoliotic curve indicates; continue reading to learn why the difference is important. A diagnosis of levoscoliosis of the lumbar spine means an unnatural spinal curve that bends to the side and twists has developed in the lumbar spine. Levo means to the left, so the scoliotic curve atypically bends to the left, rather than ty ..read more

There is a natural amount of spinal degeneration that typically accompanies aging, but certain conditions and/or injuries can make those changes more severe and/or occur at faster rates. The spine can develop a number of conditions/issues such as spondylosis and spondylolysis, and while these two terms sound similar, they are not; continue reading to understand the difference. The spine is a complex structure that, like the rest of the body, is subject to degenerative changes. Spondylosis refers to general spinal degeneration, often involving arthritis, and spondylolysis is commonly caused by ..read more