My Life with Scoliosis: The Importance of Early Detection
It is incredibly important to take care of your back. This may be an obvious statement to anyone reading this blog on the Washington Park Chiropractic website, however, many people take their healthy spines for granted and as a result may suffer injuries later in life. As for me, I have been taking extremely good care of my back since I was diagnosed with scoliosis in the 6th grade. For about four years I wore a back brace almost all day and night to prevent further curvature. I would take my brace off for several hours a day while I was at my dance studio, in gym class, or running around at soccer games or practices. After I would outgrow a back-brace I would get ‘molded’ for a new one; I was told this was similar to getting a cast even though I have never broken a bone on my body other than a finger (knock on wood)! I would also do exercises every night or day to strengthen my back and take hot baths before bed to relax my muscles. My mother was always by my side and I still fondly remember our visits to my orthopedic doctor who always told me that I could still do anything in the world that I wanted to, as long as it was legal.
Screenings at Washington Park Chiropractic
For anyone reading this with children, I think it is absolutely crucial to have your kids get yearly scoliosis screenings. In my case, my middle school offered free screenings but it wasn’t until my pediatrician did a scoliosis check that I found out. Dr. Goodman has found scoliosis in several children over the last few years (when their pediatrician missed it!) Regular check-ups with our doctors will ensure that your child’s spine is cared for early on. About 7 million people in the United States are affected by scoliosis and surgery can possibly be avoided if caught soon enough.



