Scoliosis is obviously a physical condition of the spine. In most cases, it is assessed and treated in terms of its impact on the body, which makes perfect sense.

Scoliosis affects people of all ages, but when the condition is discussed, talk tends to center on adolescents and sometimes adults. However, scoliosis also affects young children, well before they have reached adolescence.

Perhaps this is an oversimplification, but typically, there are two paths a person can take once they’ve received a scoliosis diagnosis. One is the path of traditional treatment. It involves watching and waiting…

Today’s technology allows us to do some amazing things. For example, I am writing this on my computer and sending it out to the Scoliosis Reduction Center website via the internet. You may be thousands of miles away, but because of the technology involved, you have an opportunity to read this piece from the comfort of wherever you happen to be located.

Scoliosis is a condition that affects the millions of people who have been diagnosed with it. But it also has a major impact on the friends and family members of each person who has received the diagnosis.

When the average person feels strain, discomfort, aches or pains, it’s not unusual for them to seek relief in the form of massage.

Whether a patient is an adolescent or an adult, scoliosis will have a considerable impact on emotions. Teens typically find themselves riding on an emotional roller coaster under normal circumstances. When scoliosis is also a part of the picture, it adds another emotional dimension that can be extremely difficult to deal with. Adults with scoliosis may be better suited to handle the emotions that come with the condition, but they still require support and understanding from others.

One of the keys to treating any medical condition is managing expectations. Successful outcomes are much more likely when everyone is on the same page. This means not only the patient, but family members, loved ones and members of the treatment team.

Unfortunately, “expectation gaps” emerge more often than not when so many different people become involved in the treatment of a condition.

If you or a loved one has received a scoliosis diagnosis recently, you will probably be meeting doctors and other experts soon in order to begin the treatment process. You will probably find yourself doing a heavy amount of research, as well, to determine the course of action that is most likely to produce the best solutions.

I think it is useful to compare the two scoliosis treatments so patients and parents can decide what is actually best for them and their specific situation. I believe that the people who are affected most directly by scoliosis should have access to the latest knowledge and insights. Being empowered with accurate information helps patients and their families proceed accordingly, regardless of the type of scoliosis treatments they select.