Give Your Kids a Lift
By Lee Hazen, DC
Is your child's spine growing normally? Does the school backpack hurt your child’s back? Have you noticed a high shoulder or a high hip? Does your child have scoliosis? These are all good questions and should be answered by a chiropractor or medical doctor. A good portion of my practice on a daily basis is evaluating scoliosis and children's illnesses as they relate to the spine.
First let us define scoliosis. Scoliosis is an abnormal spinal curvature. Most of these curves produce no symptoms, and can be quietly getting worse as the child grows. Scoliosis can be congenital or idiopathic (unknown causes). Numerous studies over the years have shown patients with scoliosis have difficulty in muscle coordination and standing balance. Recent sophisticated measuring devices have determined that abnormal pelvic rotation may be one of the primary mechanisms behind scoliosis.
Researchers believe that this may be the underlying cause of the coordination problems in a scoliotic spine. Some scoliosis can be aggravated by postural habits, muscle imbalances, pelvic and spinal misalignments, and leg length discrepancies. These are all very responsive to conservative care as long as the underlying source of the imbalance has been identified.
If your child's leg length is uneven it will cause a tilted pelvis and a scoliotic spine. If there is an anatomical difference in the length of the legs, a heel lift should be supplied to level the pelvis and straighten the spine. If the short leg is due to misalignment in the spine or pelvis, simple adjusting procedures for the spine may correct the spinal curvature and the accompanying leg length discrepancy.
Unfortunately, some scoliosis patients have aggressive curves which are difficult to control and require bracing or surgery. A good postural exam with a leg length screening can determine if there is a conservative treatment that would be beneficial for the child, or if other more aggressive treatment is necessary. Placing a child with a spinal curvature in a custom-made shoe insert with a proper lift provides an appropriate chance for developing a balanced spine. Supporting chiropractic spinal and pelvis adjustments will contribute to a strong structural balance for the future. By the way, those heavy school backpacks can aggravate the spine and may create a need for a lift.
