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spine do not instantaneously change during an active side bend, or if an orthosis is applied. A rigid brace
artificially substitutes a lateral pressure for the loss of supportive muscle tone.
Adult treatment has long be assumed to be ineffective due to the attempt to apply the same paradigm of
treatment which is successful in adolescents. Adult management of scoliosis requires an active neuro-muscular
rehabilitation program which can be managed effectively by a Doctor of Chiropractic.
To simplify this concept, consider that bones are moved by muscles, and muscles are activated by nerves.
Peripheral nerves create the connection between the muscle and the spinal cord. But muscle control of the
vertebra and ribcage extends beyond its segmental (spinal) innervation. The postural muscles are influenced by
brainstem and cerebellum sensory systems which transmit information about gravity and acceleration via
receptors in joints, muscles and the inner ear (vestibular system). Brainstem connections to the spinal muscles
called the Reticulospinal and vestibulospinal systems, which create tonic and phasic activation of the postural
muscles. Without this appropriate suprasegmental activation muscle tissue type changes are inevitable. Much
like the muscles of a birds wings, spinal postural muscles are resistant to fatigue, without vestibulospinal,
reticulospinal and corticospinal activation, these fibers will become more like the biceps muscle which is highly
fatigable. Coupled with the reduced amount of muscle spindles and mechanical disadvantage due to vertebral
rotation, patients with scoliosis require a comprehensive approach to non surgical care. Furthermore, brainstem
or cerebellar damage is well known to cause scoliosis. Imbalances in muscle recruitment has also been shown to
be prevalent in patients with scoliosis. This can be explained by two mechanisms. Obviously vertebral rotation
creates a mechanical disadvantage and therefore would require the patient to recruit lateral flexors to bend
forward or backward, and the opposite is also true. The other mechanism which must be explored is the motor
planning systems of the higher cortical brain. Studies do support a higher cortical imbalance as an etiological
factor in scoliosis. Language processing imbalances and eye movement disorders support this hypothesis.
The reason the orthopedic community continues to believe scoliosis isn't manageable without the use of surgery
and rigid bracing is because they are not doing enough to be successful. Martha Hawes supports these claims
quite clearly.
(From site www.spinecor.com)