12: Scoliosis Tips for Physical Therapists

This week on the podcast, we are talking to fellow providers. Specifically, the physical therapists. Tune in as Dr. Mandy shares some quick scoliosis tips for physical therapists. Tips for Physical Therapists: * Scoliosis might show up as a muscle imbalance in your patients. Pay attention to changes in the scapula or how the muscles in the spine work. The slightest change in the spine could be a sign of scoliosis.* Pay attention to your patient’s family history and personal health history.* X-rays are more important than you might think! Posture alone is not a great determination of scoliosis. The posture doesn’t always match the x-ray.* Patient positioning matters. Scoliosis won’t always be visible if your patient is laying flat on a table. When your patient lies down, the body self-corrects. So look at them while they are standing or sitting and specifically pay attention to their lumbar spine. * Anytime there is a postural or structural concern, there should be an x-ray. The risk of an x-ray is low compared to the risk of a missed diagnosis. * Whenever there is a question or something seems off, get it checked. Early intervention is important!* Help your patients by doing the following: Get x-rays done. Refer them to a specialist (like us) to help manage scoliosis and help assess when surgery might be necessary. Traction protocols and chiropractic adjustments can be used; however, bracing might be necessary too. It really does take a team of providers to help our scoliosis patients effectively! We would love to network with you to provide specialized care for your patients, as well. Connect with us to learn how we can partner together to offer solutions to your patients. Connect with us for more scoliosis resources. This show is produced by RAYMA Team Media.