4: What Providers Need To Know About Scoliosis

Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Naturopathic Doctors are valuable providers to partner with when managing scoliosis. In this episode, Dr. Mandy speaks to each of these professionals to help educate them on what to look for and how to help their scoliosis patients. She shares things she wished she would have known in the early years of her chiropractic clinic. Listen in to this episode to discover what providers need to know about scoliosis. Be sure to print out the show notes if you are one of the providers mentioned! What Chiropractic Providers Need to Know about 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. The above tips are what chiropractic providers need to know about scoliosis. Connect with us to learn how we can partner together to offer solutions to your patients. 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.* All of the tips shared above for chiropractors apply to PTs as well. It’s always best to have an x-ray because it will show us what’s really going on. The above tips are what physical therapist providers need to know about scoliosis. Connect with us to learn how we can partner together to offer solutions to your patients. Tips for Massage Therapists: * Pay attention to when your patient sits on your table. Watch how they bend over to pick up their clothes, or how they sit in your waiting area. Where they carry their handbag can also be an indicator of scoliosis – does the strap slip off the shoulder or does it stay in place? These seemingly unimportant details can make a huge difference in whether or not scoliosis is discovered and managed well. The above tips are what massage therapist providers need to know about scoliosis. Connect with us to learn how we can partner together to offer solutions to your patients. Tips for Naturopathic Doctors: * Be aware of everything mentioned above for each provider!* Watch for changes in symptoms, or a sudden onset of symptoms. Symptoms such as painful or irregular menstrual cramps or irregular bowl movements can be sig...