Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine, usually with some rotation built in. Most adults with scoliosis fall into one of two groups: those whose curve appeared in adolescence and came along into adulthood, and those who developed a new curve later in life as discs and joints wore unevenly — what's called degenerative or de novo scoliosis. Either way, adults rarely come to us about the curve itself. They come in because of what the curve produces: back pain concentrated on one side, stiffness, muscle fatigue, a hip or shoulder that sits higher, and a spine that has to work harder than a straight one to get through the same day.

Here's the honest framing, because scoliosis care attracts more overpromising than almost any condition we see: chiropractic adjustments do not correct, cure, or straighten a scoliotic curve, and we won't tell you otherwise. What care can genuinely offer is support for the spine you have — keeping the joints along the curve moving instead of rigid, easing the muscle strain that builds on the convex and concave sides, managing pain without medication, and monitoring the curve over time. Decisions about bracing or surgery belong with orthopedic specialists, and when a curve needs that conversation, we say so and help you have it.

Care starts with actually seeing the curve. The new patient visit includes a consultation, a full neurological evaluation, and any necessary X-rays — which for scoliosis means understanding the curve's location and behavior before anyone touches your spine. Adjustments use the Torque Release Technique: gentle, instrument-based, no twisting or cracking — a meaningful distinction for people who've been warned against forceful manipulation of a curved spine. Visits also address the muscle imbalance a curve creates, with home strategies to support the side that's overworking.

A note for parents: adolescent scoliosis is a different situation, because a curve in a still-growing spine needs careful screening and monitoring during growth spurts — the window where changes happen fastest. Our sister practice, Little Roots Pediatric Chiropractic (littlerootschiro.com), handles pediatric evaluation next door to us, and their team has written about scoliosis screening in kids. If you've noticed uneven shoulders or hips in your child, start with an evaluation there.