Does this sound like you?
Common signs
- One shoulder, shoulder blade or hip sitting visibly higher than the other
- A rib hump or asymmetry that becomes obvious when bending forward
- Clothes hanging unevenly, or a waistline that looks asymmetrical
- Aching or muscular fatigue on one side of the back after standing or sitting for long
- Stiffness through the mid or lower back, particularly at the end of the day
- A sense of leaning to one side, or uneven weight through the feet
This list describes the condition in general. It is not a diagnosis. Only an in-person assessment can tell you what is causing your symptoms.
What contributes to it
Why it happens
- Idiopathic scoliosis
- The majority of scoliosis has no identified cause. It most often becomes apparent during the adolescent growth spurt, which is also when monitoring matters most, because a growing spine can change more quickly than a mature one.
- Structural differences
- Some curves relate to how the vertebrae themselves formed, or to differences in leg length or pelvic position. We describe these rather than blame them. The point of the assessment is to understand what your spine is working with.
- Muscular imbalance around the curve
- A curved spine loads the muscles on either side unevenly. Over time one side works harder and fatigues sooner, which is often what people actually feel as their scoliosis, rather than the curve itself.
- Daily loading patterns
- Prolonged sitting, carrying consistently on one side, and long hours in a fixed position do not cause scoliosis, but they can add to the discomfort a curve already produces.
How we help
Our approach
Assessment before anything else
Your first visit follows the Gonstead six-step assessment: history taking, visualisation of the spinal curves and the level of head, shoulders, hips and knees, nervoscope instrumentation, palpation with a full-motion assessment of the spinal and pelvic joints, X-ray analysis where indicated, and only then an adjustment. With scoliosis, the visualisation and X-ray steps carry particular weight, because they establish what kind of curve we are dealing with before any care begins.
Care aimed at comfort and movement
Chiropractic care here works on the joints that have become restricted and on the tissue that is being overloaded. What we are after is easier movement and less discomfort. The curve itself stays as it is. Adjustments are specific and delivered by hand. We would rather be clear about this than imply an outcome chiropractic does not deliver.
Conditioning, and knowing when to refer
Our physiotherapy side builds a conditioning programme for the muscles supporting your spine, along with practical guidance on sitting, carrying and daily loading. Where a curve is significant, progressing, or in a growing adolescent, orthopaedic assessment is the appropriate step. Bracing and surgical decisions sit with a specialist. If your chiropractor feels another healthcare provider would better help you, you will be referred appropriately.
When to seek urgent care
See a doctor first if you have any of these
These need a medical assessment before you begin chiropractic care. If any apply to you, contact a doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
- A curve in a child or adolescent that is visibly worsening, especially during a growth spurt. This needs orthopaedic assessment, not chiropractic care alone
- Breathlessness, reduced exercise tolerance, or chest discomfort associated with a large curve
- New or progressive numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the groin and inner thighs
- A curve that appears suddenly, or alongside fever, unexplained weight loss or night pain
- Severe pain out of proportion to the curve, or pain following a fall or accident
Frequently asked questions
What patients ask us
Can chiropractic straighten my scoliosis?
No. We would rather be plain about that. Chiropractic care here is aimed at joint movement, muscular balance and comfort. Correcting the curve itself is not within what it does. Changing curve magnitude is the domain of orthopaedic management, including bracing and, in some cases, surgery.
My teenager has been told they have scoliosis. What should we do?
An adolescent curve should be assessed and monitored by an orthopaedic specialist, because curves can change while a child is still growing and the decisions at that stage are theirs to make. Chiropractic and physiotherapy can play a supporting role for comfort and conditioning alongside that care. We are happy to assess and to refer appropriately.
Will I need an X-ray?
X-ray analysis gives a clear picture of what the curve is actually doing: where it sits, how the spine is positioned around it, and whether anything else is present. With scoliosis that detail matters more than most, and it is what the Gonstead assessment works from. It is not automatic for every patient, and it is avoided for pregnant women and children unless there is a clear reason. Your chiropractor will explain why an X-ray is or is not indicated in your case.
Is exercise safe with scoliosis?
For most people, staying active is helpful, and general conditioning tends to be better tolerated than avoiding movement. What is appropriate depends on your curve and your symptoms, so the programme is set after assessment rather than from a template. If you are under orthopaedic care or wearing a brace, bring that guidance with you.
