The American Chiropractor

FEATURE

The Impact of Scoliosis on the People Living with It and Their Families

COLIOSIS IS AN ABNORMAL CURVATURE AND ROTATION of the spine. It causes progressive deformity of the skeletal structure and changes in the overall posture of the patient. Scoliosis can also cause serious emotional stress, especially in adolescents. However, it is quickly becoming a concern amongst the adult “baby-boomer” population, as indicated by a recent study that found scoliosis in 68% of adults over 60. 1

The physical complications of scoliosis can be quite serious, ranging from pain and muscle soreness, to organ dysfunction. 2 This can include gastro-intestinal complications like chronic constipation or diarrhea, and severe cardio-pulmonary distress as the ribs constrict and compress the heart and lungs. This dysfunction can become so severe that 60% of patients with scoliosis may die as a result of complications with the heart & lungs. 3 Research and statistical analysis show that people suffering from scoliosis have a life expectancy that is 14 years less than that of the average population (for comparison, according to the National Cancer Institute, the average cancer

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patient loses 15. 5 years off of their life). 4, 5 Some of the other ailments associated with scoliosis include headaches, chronic fatigue, joint pain, difficulty sleeping, loss of concentration, and depression. 6

The emotional effects of scoliosis can be every bit as real and serious as the physical effects. Research shows that three out of four women with scoliosis never marry. 7 Children with this condition often suffer from jokes and teasing by their classmates due to the deformity associated with their scoliosis. They are commonly unwilling to be involved with school activities that require them to wear a swimming suit or other clothing that might easily reveal the curvatures in their spine, all of which leads to social isola-