Ailments & ConditionsYour Health

Common Scoliosis Treatments

The normal shape of a spine includes a curve on the top of your shoulder and another curve on your lower back. Scoliosis is a condition in which your spine has an abnormal curvature in a C or S shape. It is estimated that up to 80% of reported cases have no identifiable trigger. This health issue is usually diagnosed during childhood. Some possible causes include genetics, neurological abnormality, or birth defect. Below are 7 common treatment options for scoliosis.

Bracing

If scoliosis occurs in childhood when you are still developing, a brace can be a good option to reverse the effects of the condition. Keep in mind that this treatment will not straighten the spine. Instead, it can only prevent your curvature from worsening. Timely diagnosis and treatment are important in increasing the chance of success with bracing. Doctors often suggest kids wear the braces from 15 to 22 hours on a daily basis until they are adolescent or no longer grow. In general, the effectiveness will increase with the number of hours you wear it each day. There are two main kinds of braces: underarm brace for lower spine curves and Milwaukee brace for curves in other areas. [1]