We talk a lot about adolescent scoliosis on this site, but we also offer scoliosis treatment for adults too! Adults who seek us out are usually most interested in scoliosis pain relief, improving posture and preventing progression as aging occurs.
Many adults, both women, and men, of all ages with mild, moderate and severe scoliosis have participated in our Schroth program and have been pleasantly surprised at the knowledge they’ve gained and the benefits they acquired. Some of the adults we’ve treated have never had any previous treatment for their scoliosis, others were braced as teens, some have had spinal fusion surgery, some have just discovered they have scoliosis (degenerative scoliosis) and others have been living with scoliosis for years and desperately want to avoid surgery. Many of our adult scoliosis patients have tried a gamut of alternative scoliosis treatments, usually with unsatisfactory results.
We find that many adults with scoliosis, both women and men, want to take a proactive approach to improve their quality of life and participate more fully in daily activities that others take for granted. For those with an active lifestyle or those who yearn for a more active lifestyle, learning curve-pattern specific scoliosis exercises and ADL training is an invaluable resource.
Our approach focuses first on educating adult patients about their spines so they are able to manage scoliosis on their own. We teach patients the skills needed to take control. At our clinic, scoliosis treatment for adults focuses on several goals. First and foremost, most adults are interested in reducing scoliosis pain, if present. Our Schroth training means we have many tools to help when scoliosis pain is present. We also focus on helping patients learn to stop curve progression and degeneration. Patients who practice what they learn can look forward to gaining a more balanced postural appearance (yes, this is possible even for adults), improving pulmonary function, gaining flexibility, and creating a more stable spine overall.
Women, in particular, seem to notice changes in their bodies when hormonal changes occur. Young adult women are truly motivated in learning about our non-surgical scoliosis treatment methods to prevent scoliosis curve progression during pregnancy. Older women, approaching menopause often inquire to since it seems this is a time that a lot of women with scoliosis tell us they begin to experience noticeable changes in their bodies that they just can’t ignore any longer. This happens in women, most commonly, from their late forties to early sixties. Many women report that once menopause approaches or occurs that the hormonal changes they experience seem to exacerbate scoliosis. Some signs that may indicate scoliosis is progressing for adults is a loss of height– usually caused by spinal degeneration, outward physical changes–such as increases in prominences, pain and/or spinal instability or imbalances.
Scoliosis Treatment for Adults Who Have Had Surgery
Patients who have had scoliosis surgery may still experience symptoms as they age. Many people who have had spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis don’t realize that there is still the potential for the spine to collapse (height decreased, loss of disc height, increased curve angle) after surgery, either within a short time or after several years. This may be a cause of curve progression in adulthood. This cause of curve progression can occur above and/or below the fused spinal segments. Adults who have had surgery for scoliosis in the past are also candidates for Schroth therapy. The programs we offer for post-surgical patients are less intensive but no less effective. Post-surgical patients learn to stabilize the spine and reduce pain. We’ve treated patients who were considered disabled but able to return to work and/or resume normal activities after participating in scoliosis exercise instruction. It’s one of the reasons we consider ours to be the absolute best scoliosis treatment for adults available anywhere!
Part-time Gensingen Bracing: New Scoliosis Treatment for Adults
Adults with scoliosis pain or spinal collapse now have the option to be fit for the Schroth method compatible Gensingen Brace®. The Gensingen brace was first used in Germany to help adults. Most choose to wear it on a part-time basis for spinal support. It offers adults the same benefits it offers adolescents (with the exception of the potential for curve reduction) but does offer scoliosis pain management, a better chance to deter progression and for spinal support and ultimately improved posture.
Choosing to wear a brace as an adult is an entirely different experience than having to wear a scoliosis brace as an adolescent. Adults are at liberty to use the brace at their discretion. Several adults we’ve treated have opted to use the brace in conjunction with Schroth exercises for a two-pronged approach to counteract scoliosis progression. All of them report that they are happy that they have chosen to do so.
Schroth Best Practice® and its compatible Schroth brace can be helpful for patients at any age. If you are an adult aiming to halt progression, decrease pain from scoliosis, or simply want to be empowered when it comes to scoliosis then give us a call. We see scoliosis patients from all over the United States and internationally at our Boston area location and look forwad to guiding you and providing the tools and knowledge to manage scoliosis for life.
Weiss HR. Scoliosis-related pain in adults: Treatment influences. European Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 3:3 91-94. 1993.
