Often, after passing a medical commission, doctors diagnose a future first-grader with scoliosis. Unfortunately, today this problem is quite widespread and is observed in almost every second child.
Scoliosis, popularly called curvature of the spine, is a disease that usually occurs in childhood. However, this ailment manifests itself with its negative consequences a little later, when the child enters adolescence. That is why the timely diagnosis of scoliosis of the spine in children, as well as its treatment, can successfully save the little patient from the problem.
Determination of pathology
What is scoliosis? This name hides a pathology in the form of a lateral curvature of the spine, which occurs in most cases during the period of active growth of the child's body.
As a rule, scoliosis in childhood is rather weakly expressed. However, this disease should not be ignored. Indeed, in some small patients, deformation of the spine over the yearsprogresses, and in the most severe cases can immobilize a person. In addition, pronounced scoliosis reduces the amount of free space in the chest. As a result, the patient's lungs cease to function normally.
As a rule, it is possible to prevent the development of a severe form of scoliosis of the spine in children. To do this, it is only necessary to start preventive treatment at an early stage of the disease.
Types of scoliosis
A pathology causing curvature of the spine to be classified. It is distinguished by type and form, causes of occurrence, features of development, as well as by the degree of manifestation. Such a classification makes it possible to identify the causes of spinal scoliosis in children with maximum accuracy and prescribe the most effective treatment for the child.
Considering the types of disease, doctors distinguish:
- Congenital ailment. This type of spinal scoliosis in children is caused by intrauterine disorders during the development of the cartilage tissue of the fetus, its intervertebral discs, as well as the bones of the skeleton.
- Acquired disease. The formation of this type of disease occurs under the influence of adverse factors. Among them - a weak corset of the back muscles, spinal injuries, the constant presence of the child's back in the wrong position, the negative impact of the environment, etc.
Congenital scoliosis
The detection of this type of disease occurs, as a rule, when the child reaches the age of seven. Of all types of congenital scoliosis of the spine in children (photo can be seen below)a special group of myelodysplasias is distinguished. It is characterized by an anomaly in the development of the lumbosacral region. The cause of this condition is the incorrect formation of the spinal cord in its lower segment.
When congenital scoliosis of the spine is detected in a child, its dysplastic types are also distinguished. Their occurrence is provoked by abnormal processes of bone tissue formation. Such scoliosis also develops in the lumbosacral region, leading to early ossification of this zone. A child suffering from dysplastic curvature of the spine is thin and pale. He has underdeveloped muscles and very narrow shoulders. The back at the same time has an oval shape, and the chest area can be described as sunken. The patient's head is tilted forward. Such a child has cool to the touch limbs and increased sweating. In the most severe cases, he has a pronounced disorder of the nervous system.
Acquired Scoliosis
There are many types of spinal curvature of this type.
Let's consider only the most common of them:
- Rachitic. This type of scoliosis occurs quite early. That is why it is detected in children at school age. This is scoliosis of the thoracic spine. In a child, it develops in the region of 9-12 vertebrae.
- Idiopathic. This form of scoliosis occurs in most cases. She is an anomalywhich is formed already in the first years of a baby's life. Scoliosis is called idiopathic, the causes of which have not yet been identified. Such a disease is diagnosed in children as early as 4-6 years of age, as well as during puberty.
- Paralytic. The cause of this type of scoliosis is poliomyelitis. The disease progresses rapidly with simultaneous deformity of the chest and development of the costal hump. Symptoms of the disease are pathological inactivity of the spinal column and weakening of the muscular corset.
- Primary. What provokes the development of this type of spinal scoliosis in children? The causes of the disease, which, as a rule, begins its development at school age are a long stay of a child in an uncomfortable position, wearing a heavy briefcase and other factors that adversely affect the formation of posture. In this case, the curvature of the spinal column can be not only lateral, but also sagittal.
- Static. The reason for the development of this type of disease is trauma to the pelvic bones and spine, tuberculosis of the hip joint and other disorders of the musculoskeletal system. This type of scoliosis is detected in children in the lumbar spine.
- Sciatica. This type of scoliosis occurs in a child after suffering a severe form of sciatica. The spinal column at the same time curves in the opposite direction from the painful area of the back.
Forms of scoliosis
A disease affecting the spinal column could be:
- C-shaped. For this form of scoliosis, the curvature has only one arc.
- S-shaped. In this case, the curvature is expressed in two arcs.
- Z-shaped. This form of curvature of the spine has three arcs at once.
Location locations
Scoliosis is detected in various parts of the spinal column.
According to the place of its localization, it happens:
- cervical;
- cervicothoracic;
- thoracic (thoracic);
- lumbar-thoracic;
- lumbar (lumbar);
- combined (in the presence of S, as well as Z-shaped curvature arcs).
Degrees of scoliosis
Depending on the magnitude of the spinal deformity, the disease can be:
- First degree. It is diagnosed with almost imperceptible changes in the spine. You can confirm the presence of the disease only by taking x-rays. For scoliosis of the 1st degree of the spine in a child, the angle of lateral deviation is not more than ten degrees.
- Second degree. At this stage of the disease, the deformity of the spine becomes visible visually. In this case, one can observe an asymmetrical arrangement of the shoulder blades and shoulders, accompanied by torsion (rotation of the vertebrae around a vertical axis). With scoliosis of the spine in children of the 2nd degree, the angle of deviation, which can be measured from the radiograph, reaches twenty-five degrees.
- Third degree. At this stage of the development of the disease, the child develops a costal hump. In this case, the spinal column dramatically changes its activity. Deformation radiological angle is within 40 degrees. For the third degree of scoliosis of the spine in childrencharacterized by the appearance of pulmonary and heart failure. A sick child suffers from shortness of breath, which occurs even with the slightest physical exertion, heavy sweating and weakness.
- Fourth degree. At this stage of the disease, there is a clear deformity of the spine, which can be seen even when the child is dressed. In this case, the lateral tilt angle exceeds 50 degrees. You can also recognize the fourth degree of scoliosis by the barrel-shaped chest, visually short torso and elongated limbs. In addition, the child can observe significant changes in the functioning of internal organs. Such a patient also complains of swelling of the extremities. With this degree of illness, a person is a disabled person who needs constant care and assistance.
Scoliosis test
Caring parents themselves can identify the curvature of the spine in their child. To do this, a simple test is carried out, during which the baby must be asked to turn his back to the adult, not to strain and lower his arms, stretching them along the body. If parents notice that their child has one shoulder slightly higher than the other, or a similar asymmetrical arrangement is typical for the shoulder blades, and if the distance from the body to the arm on one side is greater than on the other, then the child should be asked to lean forward.
In this position, you can see that the vertebrae do not lie in one line. If parents notice even one of the above signs of scoliosis, then they should immediately take their child to the doctor. itwill allow timely diagnosis or exclusion of the presence of the disease. Scoliosis of the spine in children (photo can be seen below) can only be successfully eliminated with timely early treatment.
The child's body is not yet fully formed. It still continues to grow, which makes it possible to resist the progression of the pathology.
Possible Complications
You should not assume that the problem associated with the curvature of the spine will go away in a child by itself. In addition, with the development of even a moderate form of the disease in children and adolescents, quite serious complications may occur. Among them:
- impaired respiratory and cardiac activity due to changes in the shape of the chest, which begins to put pressure on the heart and lungs;
- the occurrence of back problems in the form of chronic pain;
- negative change in the posture, gait and appearance of the child in the form of protruding ribs, uneven shoulders, as well as the psychological state of the patient, who begins to be ashamed of his body.
Effective Therapies
What treatment can be prescribed for spinal scoliosis in children? It is carried out after visiting a specialist and selecting an individual set of necessary measures. What can they be? Let's get acquainted with each of them in more detail.
Treatment regimen
A patient with scoliosis needs to sleep only on an orthopedic mattress, eat a balanced diet, stop playing sports, excluding increased physical activity, and start exercising regularly.special gymnastics exercises designed for posture correction.
exercise therapy
Gymnastics for scoliosis of the spine in children is one of the main methods used in the complex treatment of the described problem. Performing special physical exercises allows you to develop and strengthen the muscles of the back, improve the motor activity of the vertebrae, and also activate the blood supply to tissues.
In the presence of scoliosis of the spine in children, an individual set of special exercises should be selected. He is appointed by a specialist in exercise therapy, which determines the intensity and degree of stress. If necessary, the exercises can be adjusted.
During gymnastics, static and dynamic loads should be alternated. Some of the recommended exercises the child can perform independently at home. For example:
- From a prone position, stretch your arms forward. While inhaling, raise straight legs and arms up. As you exhale, return the body to its original position.
- Lie on your back with your hands behind your head. Perform foot movements as if pedaling on a bicycle.
- Hold your hands up, walk on your heels and then on your toes.
Massage
This procedure is used as an auxiliary method of treating the disease. Massage for scoliosis of the spine in children can improve blood circulation in the area that has undergone deformation. This procedure eliminates pain and strengthens the muscular system.
Sessionmassage is sometimes differentiated. So, it is made relaxing in the hypertrophied zone and tonic - in the atrophied one.
Let's consider the stages of this medical procedure. At first, the masseur easily works on soft tissues, and then has a deep effect on the muscles. After that, the deformation is corrected and the result obtained is fixed. On average, a massage course is from 15 to 20 procedures. The first sessions last no more than 20 minutes. Then gradually this time increases and reaches 50-60 minutes.
Posture Correctors
Is there another method by which scoliosis of the spine is treated in children? Depending on the localization of the curvature and its degree, the orthopedist can choose a posture corrector for the child. This is a special product that must be worn for a long period of time. As the child grows, the posture corrector is periodically adjusted to his figure.
Youth scoliosis is eliminated with the help of reclinators. These products serve to support the muscles of the upper thoracic region, while correcting a slight stoop. With more pronounced scoliosis, the orthopedist recommends that his patient wear chest belts and bandages.
Physiotherapy
This method of treatment to eliminate the curvature of the spine is ineffective. However, its use in combination with therapeutic exercises, massage and other methods will help enhance their effect and speed up the recovery of the child. Physiotherapy methods allowrestore metabolism, activate blood supply to tissues, eliminate signs of inflammation and pain. This type of treatment will help the correct distribution of loads on the muscles and on the spine. Consider the most effective methods of physiotherapy.
Power Shower
This method is a hydromassage procedure. During such a shower, water in the form of a jet is supplied under pressure. In this case, the specialist directs it to the deformed part of the spine. Regular Charcot shower helps to eliminate curvature.
It should be borne in mind that when water is supplied with too high pressure, the deformation of the spine can be even more intensified. That is why in sanatoriums the procedure is carried out under the supervision of an experienced specialist.
Electrophoresis
With pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, spasms of a certain muscle group are often observed. Eliminate this phenomenon allows electrical stimulation of tissues. The muscles are exposed to a current of a certain power, which relieves the patient of pain caused by muscle overstrain.
Electrophoresis allows drugs to penetrate into the deep layers of the skin. In this zone, the active substances of the agents used decompose into ions, acting on the pathology site for several weeks.
Exposure to ultrasound
The phonophoresis procedure helps restore blood circulation in tissues and eliminate signs of inflammation. Ultrasound allows drugs to penetratedeep into the skin, where they will relieve pain.
Heat therapy
This method is also often used in the elimination of spinal scoliosis in children. In this case, both natural and artificial heat sources are used. The positive effect of the procedure is as follows:
- restoring the outflow of blood and lymph;
- acceleration of regeneration processes;
- removal of decay products.
All the above actions explain the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of heat treatment.
Surgery
The method of eliminating scoliosis with the help of a surgeon's scalpel is used only when the disease is advanced, when it negatively affects the functioning of the whole organism. Indications for surgery are spinal deviation from the axis at an angle of more than 40 degrees, as well as the presence of pain that cannot be stopped with drugs. Surgical intervention is also performed with intensive progression of the disease, as well as with neurological disorders that have arisen in the patient.
