Chiropractic is a well-known approach which is recognised as an effective treatment for many spinal conditions – for most people, back pain is the first issue which comes to mind (and with good reason, chiropractic can be incredibly effective for back pain), but is it useful in treating Scoliosis?
Traditional Chiropractic
Let’s begin by saying that traditional approaches within chiropractic are not specifically designed to treat Scoliosis, and while the usual effects of chiropractic treatment (such as a reduction in back pain) may well be of use to scoliosis sufferers, there’s no evidence to suggest that general spinal manipulation will prevent or reduce the development of Scoliosis. For this reason, standardised chiropractic approaches aren’t something we’d recommend as a treatment path and a normal high-street chiropractor shouldn’t be your destination for Scoliosis-specific care.
Chiropractic Biophysics
The above being said it’s important to realise that Chiropractic is a huge discipline with many specialities – and there’s some evidence to suggest that some of these approaches may have value as part of Scoliosis treatment.
Chiropractic Biophysics, for example, is an advanced discipline within chiropractic, which is by far the most well-researched and scientifically-published method within the Chiropractic profession. It is based upon proven techniques that help restore the spine back to better alignment and alleviate pain and discomfort at its source. CBP goes beyond the spine and focuses on the supporting ligaments and musculature too – an area which can be of concern for Scoliosis patients. There are currently over 200 peer-reviewed research on CBP analysis, technique and patient outcomes!
Our founder, Dr Paul Irvine was first introduced to CBP in 2003, having had no prior knowledge or experience of it. Once he developed his new skills and knowledge, he found that patient results were superior to traditional methods and that he could help with more difficult cases that traditional chiropractic hadn’t been successful in assisting – once Paul began to specialise in Scoliosis, he brought his skills in CBP with him.
CBP care consists of a package of specific treatment approaches which include:
- Mirror Image Posture Correction Exercises
- Mirror Image Posture Corrective Adjustments
- Corrective Spinal & Postural Traction for spinal remodelling
Taken as a whole, these approaches can assist Scoliosis patients in improving their posture, reducing pain and promoting spinal mobility and flexibility. While chiropractic biophysics alone is not sufficient as a methodology to halt the progression of, or correct, scoliosis there is a growing body of evidence which shows that chiropractic biophysics can play a valuable role in reducing pain and discomfort as well as supporting overall postural improvement in patients.
CLEAR
One chiropractic approach specifically designed to treat Scoliosis does exist – CLEAR was founded in 2000 by Dr. Dennis Woggon, a Doctor of Chiropractic with over 40 years of experience in treating spinal disorders. CLEAR is an acronym standing for Chiropractic, Leadership, Educational, Advancement and Research – gradually, more research is being published which suggests that CLEAR could indeed be a valuable addition to Scoliosis treatment plans.
Similar to the approach suggested as part of CBP, CLEAR Certified Doctors of Chiropractic utilise advanced methods of diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation that are not found in most general chiropractic practices to help manage and reduce the symptoms associated with Scoliosis. Unlike CBP, CLEAR also aims to reduce Scoliotic curves – and, to be fair, there are now some published studies showing that this may indeed be possible.
At the UK Scoliosis Clinic, we don’t currently offer CLEAR treatment – but we’re keeping our eye on its development!
