For many, scoliosis can be a debilitating condition that causes discomfort or pain with no hope of a cure. It may surprise you then to find out that the world’s fastest runner, Usain Bolt, has scoliosis.

In a December 2011 issue of ESPN’s The Magazine*, Bolt described how scoliosis affected his training. “When I was younger it wasn’t really a problem. But you grow and it gets worse. My spine’s really curved bad [makes “S” shape with finger]. But if I keep my core and back strong, the scoliosis doesn’t really bother me. So I don’t have to worry about it as long as I work hard. The early part of my career, when we didn’t really know much about it, it really hampered me because I got injured every year.”

It’s a telling observation about what is potentially the best remedy—there is no known cure—for scoliosis.

Scoliosis refers to a neuromuscular condition that takes place when the spine rotates and curves sideways. For the most part, the underlying cause or causes remain unknown, which explains why it is often referred to as idiopathic scoliosis. Some studies suggest that scoliosis may be genetic, however these studies remain largely inconclusive.

Usually, idiopathic scoliosis is categorized based on the age that the deformity develops. As such, there is infantile idiopathic scoliosis, juvenile idiopathic scoliosis, as well as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

When the spine takes on a curved S-shape, it can cause severe pain or it can go unnoticed, depending on the severity of the condition. Regardless of whether you are suffering from juvenile scoliosis or the adolescent variety, it is clear that scoliosis can interfere with the patient’s health, which is why its treatment is important and necessary.

Pain and mobility can be a real issue for people suffering from scoliosis. Although scoliosis is manageable and treatable, it is technically not curable. Scoliosis is a lot like diabetes; it is one of those conditions that require constant and regular care.

And this brings us back to Usain Bolt. Bolt’s observation that, “if I keep my core and back strong, the scoliosis doesn’t really bother me” A combination of chiropractic and exercise (Usain is a big fan of chiropractic) is the key for many people to live a comfortable life with scoliosis.

Typically, improvements in scoliosis are judged by a reduction in pain and/or a reduction in the severity of the “Cobb angle” or the angle of deviation away from normal. A Cobb angle of 10 degrees is regarded as the minimum angle to define Scoliosis.

Although there is no cure for scoliosis, chiropractic—and chiropractic combined with exercise in particular—may help reduce the symptoms and discomfort caused by scoliosis.

At Rice Family Chiropractic, we take a holistic approach to our practice, which means we consider your health to be a sum of all your inputs—mental, spiritual and physical. If you have any questions about chiropractic rehabilitation for scoliosis patients and how it relates to your spinal health, please don’t hesitate to call us for an appointment.

Rice Family Chiropractic

Wellness from our family, to yours.

Dr. Erin and James Rice

#310-6525 204 Street

Langley, BC V2Y 3B3

604 539 0542