While X-ray is not the only way to measure a scoliosis curve, it is today’s gold standard. That being said, as X-rays are taking an image of a 2-D space and scoliosis is a 3-D condition, X-ray results should be combined with other measurements and observations for a comprehensive understanding of the condition.
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One aspect of scoliosis that people get confused with is that just because it’s not preventable doesn’t mean it’s not treatable. In fact, inaction is the worst thing a person can do, or not do when it comes to a scoliosis diagnosis.
Here at the Scoliosis Reduction Center, we customize each and every treatment plan to the individual needs and abilities of our patients. The first step before designing an effective treatment plan is getting thorough measurements and assessments that give a full picture of the individual, the curvature, where the curvature is located, degree of flexibility, and the Cobb angle measurement. The gold standard for measuring a spinal curvature is the scoliosis X-ray.
Discovered in 1895, you might think that since then, a more sophisticated form of technology than the X-ray would have been developed. Today, X-rays are still the most reliable method for assessing and measuring a spinal curvature. In addition to their reliability, they are quick, accessible, and inexpensive.
As the most common way to obtain a Cobb angle measurement, X-rays have stood the test of time. A Cobb angle measurement designates a patient’s curvature as mild, moderate, or severe; this is determined by the Cobb angle measurement that assesses how far the scoliosis spine bends and twists away from a straight alignment.
If a spinal curvature measures greater than 10 degrees, a scoliosis diagnosis will likely be given. If a Cobb angle measures 25 degrees or less, a diagnosis of mild scoliosis will be given. For Cobb angle measurements of between 25 and 40 degrees, moderate scoliosis is designated, and severe scoliosis is present when an X-ray produces a Cobb angle measurement of 40-plus degrees in adolescents and 50-plus degrees in adults.
We can see how important a scoliosis X-ray is in determining the degree of severity that experts use to classify the condition. This is so important because the condition’s degree of severity helps determine the best course of treatment.
Regardless of what type or degree of spinal curvature you have, it is never too late to start treatment.
Standing X-rays are taken while the patient is in a standing position, and these measurements can tell us how much the whole body is growing. Seated X-rays are taken while the patient is seated, and these measurements can tell us exactly how much the spine is growing.
These results are important because once we get as much of a handle as possible on a patient’s growth pattern, we can predict how much and when the curvature is likely to progress. This is especially important in cases of adolescent scoliosis where staying on top of the condition’s progression is key. If a curvature is left untreated through a growth spurt and that curve progresses rapidly, it’s more challenging to then work towards a reduction, than it is to work towards preventing that rapid progression from occurring in the first place.
That’s not to say that a curvature can’t be reduced, which is why I say it’s never too late to seek treatment, but ideally, the goal is to catch the curve before it progresses unimpeded through a growth spurt.
While there are other methods of screening for scoliosis, it just so happens that none are as reliable, quick, accessible, and cost-effective as scoliosis X-rays.
Other than an X-ray, the best way for me to assess a scoliosis patient is through posture. I get the patient to stand, bend forward, sit, and walk. I can check their flexibility and range of motion, and because of my experience, I can tell a lot about a patient’s condition by the way they walk. Through these assessments, I can build upon the measurements given by a scoliosis X-ray and ensure that I have a comprehensive understanding of the condition from every angle.
In terms of other technologies for measuring scoliosis, there are 3-D X-ray technologies in existence, but these machines are expensive and time-consuming. The scan’s accuracy is also dependent upon the patient staying perfectly still during the exam. Imagine how hard remaining completely still would be in cases of adolescent patients.
Standing MRIs can also be used, but they are far more costly than standard X-rays, and they also don’t offer any more conclusive or reliable results.
Again, I remind my patients and their caregivers that scoliosis X-rays are a great resource for diagnosing and monitoring the condition, but used alone, they do only provide a 2-D representation of a 3-D condition. This is why I always recommend going to a scoliosis specialist; we know what to look for and how to interpret a scoliosis X-ray to get an accurate understanding of the condition and determine the best possible course of treatment.
As already mentioned, the main limitation of a scoliosis X-ray is that it is a 2-D measurement of a 3-D condition. X-rays are great for diagnosing, assessing, and measuring a spinal curvature, but effective scoliosis treatment requires a 3-D approach.
As X-rays give a 2-D picture of the spine, any doctor evaluating those results is going to need additional measurements and assessment techniques to get a full understanding of the patient’s 3-D condition.
Scoliosis experts know how to interpret a scoliosis X-ray. The reason I caution against seeking help from someone who doesn’t specialize in scoliosis is because they lack the experience, knowledge, and training that is necessary to provide accurate scoliosis measurements and treatment recommendations.
I have no doubt that a curvature could be spotted and diagnosed from an X-ray by a general practitioner, but having a comprehensive understanding of the curvature, its measurements, and likely rate of progression is something that takes years and a lot of training to hone.
Scoliosis experts can remove the limitation of X-rays as only measuring a 2-D space because they know how to evaluate a scoliosis X-ray in a 3-D manner; that skill is invaluable when it comes to developing the best possible course of treatment.
There’s a lot more to measuring and understanding scoliosis than just obtaining the Cobb angle. My approach is to use multiple measurements from a variety of angles to ensure the 3-D condition is apptly being measured and understood. I look at the spine from several different X-ray angles to assess tilt, twist, and other characteristics of the curvature, and that is what enables me and my team to come up with the best patient-centered treatment approach possible.
Here at the Scoliosis Reduction Center, X-rays are a daily part of our diagnostic and treatment tools and this is how we use them:
When scoliosis is present, there is an abnormal bend and twist to the spine. A scoliosis X-ray can tell us just how severe that bend and twist is, as well as where it is along the spine. X-rays can also tell us how much the whole body is growing and how much the spine is growing. They also give us a Cobb angle measurement which is the most commonly used measurement for scoliosis; that measurement places the condition on the severity scale. Once those measurements have been obtained, a treatment plan can be designed and implemented.
When it comes to the limitations of the scoliosis X-ray, that is easily remedied by ensuring the measurements are taken and interpreted by a scoliosis expert. Scoliosis specialists know how to interpret a 2-D X-ray image in a 3-D manner, which is exactly what effective scoliosis treatment requires.
There is still a fair amount of mystery around scoliosis, mainly in terms of causation. While we may not fully understand the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of the condition’s development in most cases, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a solid understanding of how to treat it. In fact, when asked if treatment approaches would change if the cause was known, I say “not likely.” This gives my patients some comfort in knowing that an unknown cause does not equate lesser treatment options.
Through my work at the Scoliosis Reduction Center and my book Scoliosis Hope, I’m working towards spreading awareness. By knowing the shortcomings of relying solely on an X-ray to determine the course of treatment and the importance of consulting with someone who specializes in scoliosis, you are giving yourself and your loved ones the best chance of finding a successful treatment path.
