The back and its aches
Scoliosis
What is backache?
Backache is often referred to as the "ache of our times" because many people suffer from it at least once in their life.
Backache can have a wide range of causes and depends on the morphology, past history and activities of each individual. Back pain can appear as a result of certain conditions such as arthrosis, herniation of an intervertebral disk, sciatica, lumbago and so on.
Certain conditions are chronic, that is, they progress throughout life. Others are acute, that is, they occur following a false movement or physical overwork.
The spinal column (or backbone) supports many mechanical and physiological constraints. The vertebrae are complex in structure: a network of ligaments, articular apophyses and intervertebral disks. They allow the spinal column to play all its different roles: mobility of the trunk and head, protection of the spinal cord and circulation of information through the nerves that come out of the spinal column and travel out towards the organs and muscles.
Back pain occurs:
- When one of the parts of the vertebrae deteriorates, as is the case in lumbar arthrosis, cervical arthrosis or herniation of an intervertebral disk.
- When the elements come into conflict with each other that is, when they "lean" on each other as is the case in sciatica or lumbago.
What is scoliosis?
Scoliose is a deformity of the spinal column along 3 axes: right/left, back/front and torsion of the vertebrae around the column. All or part (thorax, abdomen) of the spinal column can be affected.
The condition can occur at any age from the birth of the child to the age of bone maturity during puberty. It is more common in girls.
Scoliosis results in an abnormal and characteristic body posture. In the case of thoracic scoliosis, this posture is referred to as gibbosity.
Without treatment, scoliosis worsens until growth stops. It produces problems in respiratory capacity and can lead to paralysis by nerve compression. "Real" scoliosis is distinguished from habit scoliosis (a much less serious condition), which is simply a lateral inclination. In this case, the person is said to "hold himself badly".
Orthopaedic management can fit into the framework of a medical treatment prescribed by your doctor. In case of doubt, ask your doctor or orthopaedist for advice.
Orthopaedic treatment
The orthopaedic solution for "real" scoliosis (idiopathic scoliosis) obligatorily requires major appliances such as restrictive braces and functional re-education. The aim of this is to correct the deformities and encourage a good musculature, necessary for growth under the best conditions.
Made-to-measure small appliance belts are recommended for habit scoliosis that occurs following damage from osteoporosis. Their aim is to avoid an aggravation of the deformities.
