June is...

National Scoliosis Awareness Month

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine that affects two to three percent of the population, or an estimated 7 million people in the United States. Most are diagnosed with scoliosis between the ages of 10 and 15, but the condition also affects infants and adults. It is a condition that affects people of all races, classes and both genders. Girls are eight times more likely than boys to have a curve that will progress to a magnitude that requires treatment. Scoliosis is common in children with a variety of congenital and neuromuscular diseases, but it is most prevalent in seemingly healthy children, with no known cause.

Physical therapy exercises for scoliosis provide numerous benefits ranging from stretching your muscles to toning and strengthening them. Physical Therapists are experts in movement disorders, as well as posture and exercise. They perform an individualized evaluation of the extent of the scoliosis, the impact on the person's lifestyle and comfort level, and then design a specialized exercise program.

Hands-on treatment in the form of what is called "manual therapy" is also an essential part of scoliosis treatment. Physical Therapists are uniquely qualified and trained to perform stretches, spinal and ribcage mobilizations and training in breathing with these hands-on techniques.