There is currently no cure for scoliosis, meaning that there are no available treatments that can completely and permanently straighten the spine. With that being said, there are several effective treatment options available for temporarily straightening scoliosis and reducing scoliosis symptoms.

Since scoliosis is typically progressive, which is to say that it worsens over time, scoliosis straightening treatments are commonly recurring for patients to sustain and maintain the straightening results of scoliosis treatment. As such, some common treatments for straightening scoliosis include the following:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Corrective back bracing
• Physical therapy
• Scoliosis-specific stretches and exercises
• Spinal decompression therapy

Most adults with scoliosis do not require surgery to correct scoliosis, as several non-invasive treatments can provide excellent results on a recurrent basis. However, some individuals may require lumbar decompression surgery to correct scoliosis if other treatments fail to improve the condition. 

Lumbar decompression surgery is often considered in severe scoliosis cases where symptoms are getting worse, treatment fails to improve symptoms, or the spinal nerves are significantly irritated or pinched. There are three different types of surgery for scoliosis:

• Laminectomy, wherein a section of one of the vertebrae in the spine is removed to relieve pressure on a nerve.
• Discectomy, wherein a section of one of the spinal discs between vertebrae is removed to relieve pressure on a nerve.
• Spinal fusion, wherein two or more vertebrae or conjoined to straighten, stabilize, and strengthen the spine. 

Depending on the type of scoliosis that a patient has, scoliosis can be caused by neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, congenital abnormalities, or spinal injuries or infections. However, the primary cause of scoliosis is unclear in most cases, although it seems to have roots in genetics as it often runs in families.

With that in mind, scoliosis risk factors include family history, growth spurts that occur immediately before puberty, and sex, as women tend to experience scoliosis much worse than men.

Scoliosis can be successfully corrected and managed in adults through various treatment options, including chiropractic care, physical therapy, spinal decompression, and corrective bracing. In severe cases, lumbar decompression surgery may be necessary to correct scoliosis in adults.

There are several different types of doctors who can treat scoliosis in adults, including chiropractic doctors, orthopedic surgeons, or neurosurgeons that specialize in spinal surgery. At The Orthopedic Group, our doctor is highly skilled with plenty of experience and expertise in treating all different types of scoliosis.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, there are three broad types of scoliosis, each with variations of its own. These three types are as follows:

• Congenital, in which the spine is curved at birth
• Idiopathic, when there is no known cause or single factor contributing to the condition
• Neuromuscular, when a neuromuscular condition causes scoliosis

For more information about scoliosis treatment or to schedule a scoliosis treatment appointment with us at The Orthopedic Group, we welcome you to call us or schedule an appointment through our website! We serve patients from Leesburg VA, Lansdowne VA, Stone Springs VA, Ashburn VA, Sterling VA, Aldie VA, South Riding VA, Herndon VA, Winchester VA, Reston VA and Chantilly VA.