Osteopathic Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a medical condition in which the spine is curved sideways. Sometimes the spine is also twisted, forcing the ribcage out of proper alignment. Three to four children out of a thousand will suffer some form of scoliosis.

Causes

• Scoliosis is typically congenital; idiopathic, meaning it arises spontaneously from unknown causes; or neuromuscular, meaning it is linked to another condition.

Osteopathy

• Osteopathy is a form of medicine pioneered by American doctor Andrew Taylor in the 19th century. It holds that manipulation of the musculoskeletal system can enable the body's natural healing processes.

Complementary Medicine

• Outside of the United States, osteopathy is considered a complementary medicine, which means that it should only be used in conjunction with more conventional treatments. In the United States, however, a doctor of osteopathic medicine has the same medical training as an ordinary medical doctor.

Osteopathy and Scoliosis

• Mild idiopathic scoliosis may be helped, and any pain managed with the use of osteopathy. However, for serious forms of scoliosis, it is not recommended that osteopathy be the only treatment, and the sufferer may consider surgery or the use of a brace.