Study Shows Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Helped by Chiropractic

The Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal released a study on October 9, 2021, with the title, "Chiropractic management as conservative care for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A cases report." The study documents multiple cases of children with scoliosis being helped with chiropractic care.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus, "Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine that appears in late childhood or adolescence. Instead of growing straight, the spine develops a side-to-side curvature, usually in an elongated "S" or "C" shape; the bones of the spine are also slightly twisted or rotated." The word "idiopathic" simply means that the cause is medically unknown.

In the study's introduction, the authors explain the seriousness of scoliosis by stating, "Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a spinal deformity which is commonly diagnosed in females from ages ten to fifteen. It accounts for over 80% of all cases of idiopathic scoliosis and has serious consequences for quality of life, limiting activities, causing pain, and significantly influencing respiratory function and self-esteem."

This study reviews chiropractic care for six young patients with idiopathic scoliosis who were under chiropractic care between 2019 and 2021. Included in the study were two boys and four girls all between the ages of 7 and 12 years old who had idiopathic scoliosis. They all received chiropractic care for a period of between 6 and 9 months.

The spinal curvatures were measured before the beginning of care, and again at the end of the care period, using a standardized system known as the "Cobb angle." The two measurements were then compared to see the percentage of change that took place from the months of chiropractic care.

The results of the cases showed as follows: Patient 1, an 8-year-old boy, had a 42% improvement in his curvature. Patient 2, a 12-year-old girl, had a 29% improvement. Patient 3, a 9-year-old girl, showed an 85% improvement. Patient 4, an 8-year-old boy, had an 84% improvement in his curvature. Patient 5, a 9-year-old girl, showed a 38% curvature improvement. Patient 6, a 12-year-old girl, showed an 77% improvement in her spinal curvature after chiropractic care.

It should be noted none of these adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) cases were considered to be severe at the start of chiropractic care. However, in many cases, scoliosis gets progressively worse. The medical approach for scoliosis correction is either bracing or surgery, both of which carry considerable hardships and significant side effects. In this study, the researchers reported no significant side effects from any of the children with AIS while under chiropractic care.

In their conclusion, the authors highlight how chiropractic care would be beneficial in the early care of scoliosis by stating, "Because scoliosis is more likely to worsen in growing children, early conservative intervention is suggested in AIS. Chiropractic appears to play a role in the correction and monitoring of early-stage scoliosis, despite the fact that there is no treatment for mild scoliosis in the medical community."