Scoliosis: what it is and how chiropractic care can support it

Scoliosis is an abnormal, progressive lateral curvature of the spine, either in the thoracic (central) or lumbar (lower) region. It is classified as scoliosis from a curve of more than 10 degrees; below that angle it is not considered as such.

Between 2% and 4% of the population has scoliosis, most often between the ages of 10 and 12, although the deformation usually begins earlier (between the ages of 5 and 8). It is more common in girls and women.

The 7 signs that may point to scoliosis

To the naked eye, the features that may serve as warning signs are:

1. Uneven shoulders.
2. Uneven hips — one appears higher and more prominent than the other.
3. One shoulder blade higher or more prominent than the other.
4. Thoracic hump (“rib hump”) — the rear of the rib cage sticks out more on one side.
5. A visible deviation of the spine (lumbar or thoracic).
6. Sometimes, an exaggerated lumbar curve (lordosis).
7. Asymmetric triangles between the trunk, the pelvis and the arms hanging at the sides.

The Adam’s forward bend test

This is a simple screening test that can even be carried out by someone without medical training:

1. The person stands upright, facing forward.
2. They perform a forward bend of the trunk, keeping the legs straight and the arms hanging towards the floor.
3. The observer stands behind them and checks whether the two sides of the back are at the same level or whether one stands out visibly more than the other.

If an area stands out (rib hump), a professional assessment is recommended.

Important: the Adam’s forward bend test is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. A scoliosis diagnosis must be made by a healthcare professional through examination and, where appropriate, X-ray imaging.

Why it appears

In roughly 80% of cases the cause is unknown — which is why it is called idiopathic scoliosis. In the remaining 20% it may appear associated with other conditions (for example, congenital vertebral malformations).

By age of onset, it is usually classified as:

• Infantile scoliosis (onset before the age of 10).
• Adolescent scoliosis (onset during the growth spurt). This is the most common form.

The curvature tends to progress while the skeleton is still developing. Once skeletal maturity is reached (around the age of 18), the degree of deviation tends to stabilise or progress only very slowly.

What conventional medical management says

The standard medical approach to scoliosis is the remit of orthopaedic surgeons and spine specialists, and it combines active monitoring, corrective orthopaedic braces and, in the most severe cases, fixation surgery. Each case is assessed individually.

What role chiropractic care can play

Chiropractic care does not replace the medical management of scoliosis, but can accompany it from a different perspective: the chiropractor works on mechanical dysfunctions and the mobility of the vertebrae of the spine, through specific vertebral adjustments.

In a patient with scoliosis, the goal is not to “straighten” the spine or to replace the specialist’s follow-up, but rather to:

• Maintain the greatest possible range of joint motion in each spinal segment.
• Prevent the joints that still move correctly from losing function through compensation.
• Support the nervous system through a functional spine.

It is complementary care, not an alternative, and is particularly useful when the patient or their parents are looking for active support alongside medical follow-up.

Vulnerable stages: why development matters

The spine goes through its decisive moment in childhood and adolescence — a period of major physical and hormonal changes during which vertebral subluxations (losses of joint mobility) often appear. Modern postural lifestyle (school bags, screens, sedentary behaviour, intense sport) adds load to a structure that is still developing.

That is why many families with growing children include chiropractic check-ups as part of an integrated approach to health, alongside the paediatrician or the relevant specialist.

In Spain

Chiropractic is legal in Spain but not officially regulated as a healthcare profession. The AEQ (Asociación Española de Quiropráctica) brings together exclusively professionals with university training recognised by the ECCE. Dimitri de Borodaewsky is a member of the AEQ with the number 1373 and graduated from the Madrid College of Chiropractic (MCC) in 2015.

If your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis and you would like to learn about the role chiropractic care can play as support for their follow-up, at Tantae Quiropràctic (Vilanova i la Geltrú) we also see patients from the Garraf area, Sitges, Calafell and the Penedès. You can book your first visit by picking a day and time directly on the online calendar.