Scoliosis: What It Is and What the Evidence Says

Scoliosis describes an abnormal sideways curve of the spine and it comes in different forms depending on your age and the cause. Most adults who come to see me about it aren’t hoping to reverse or straighten their curve. They want help with the pain, stiffness or reduced mobility that can come with it, a different goal from correcting the curve itself. If you’ve been told you or your child has scoliosis and you’re wondering whether chiropractic care can help, I will answer that as honestly as I can, because this is an area where it’s easy to overpromise.

This page covers what scoliosis is, what causes it, the symptoms people notice, when to seek medical attention and what the evidence supports for chiropractic care.

“the results were massively noticeable and I now no longer take painkillers”

“7 years after my scoliosis correction procedure I started having excruciating pain and horrible headaches for almost a year and was taking extremely strong pain killers on a daily basis. Having had many x rays and visits to different specialist doctors they had no helpful answers of what was causing the pain. A friend recommended I go see Leslie and although sceptical at first as to how it would help, anything to make the pain better would be worth a try. He took the time to understand all the different aspects of my pain and reassured me with stories of other scoliosis patients he has treated previously. After several sessions the results were massively noticeable… I would highly recommend Leslie and his services to anyone seeking treatment for back pain.”

Ellie B

What is Scoliosis?

Structural scoliosis is a fixed, three-dimensional curve that doesn’t fully straighten with a change in posture, usually with some vertebral rotation alongside the sideways curve. This differs from a postural curve caused by, for example, one leg being shorter than the other, which typically resolves with a change in position.

The most common form in young people is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, developing during the growth years without an identifiable cause. In adults, the picture is often different. Adult degenerative scoliosis, sometimes called de novo scoliosis, develops later in life as the discs and joints wear unevenly, similar to the process behind spinal osteoarthritis and it’s a different condition from a curve present since adolescence, even though both get called scoliosis.

a womans back and spine showing the Scoliosis curvature describing the symptoms and expaining what scolisosis is

Causes of Scoliosis

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, by definition, has no single identified cause, though genetics appear to play a role, since it runs in families. Growth spurts are when curves are most likely to progress, which is why monitoring during the teenage years is important.

Adult degenerative scoliosis develops differently, driven by uneven wear in the discs and facet joints over time. Less common causes include neuromuscular conditions affecting the muscles supporting the spine and congenital scoliosis, present from birth due to how the vertebrae formed.

Symptoms of Scoliosis

Patients or parents often notice uneven shoulders, one shoulder blade sitting more prominently than the other, an uneven waistline or one hip appearing higher than the other, sometimes with a visible lean to one side. Clothes hanging unevenly is often what first draws attention to it. In adults, the picture is usually different: aching or stiffness on one side of the back, fatigue after standing or sitting for a while and sometimes leg symptoms if the curve is narrowing the space around a nerve root.

Not everyone with scoliosis experiences pain and curve size alone doesn’t reliably predict how much discomfort someone has. Pain more often comes from the knock-on effects, muscles on one side working harder to keep you upright, joints bearing uneven load, rather than the curve itself being inherently painful.

Headshot of Leslie Budzynski DC, BCA registered Bournemouth Chiropractor at Bournemouth Chiropractic

How Chiropractic May Help with Scoliosis Symptoms

For adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, the strongest evidence is for bracing and specific exercise programmes. International guidelines from SOSORT, the leading scientific body on conservative scoliosis treatment, recommend these as first-line for curves likely to progress.[1] This isn’t chiropractic-specific territory.

For adults, the evidence base is thinner, for every conservative option, not just for chiropractic. A review of research on non-surgical treatment in adult scoliosis found the evidence for chiropractic manipulation was very weak, while physical therapy and bracing had a similarly modest evidence base at the time.[2] More recent research is more encouraging on the exercise side and physical manual therapy. A 2024 study following adults with degenerative scoliosis through a structured exercise programme found meaningful improvements in pain and quality of life over three months, though it was a small study without a comparison group.[3] Bracing for adults has its own evidence base too, with a systematic review finding some benefit for pain, though again the research quality is limited.[4]

What this adds up to, in my opinion, is reasonable support for movement-based, active conservative care helping adults manage pain and function with scoliosis, but not for the idea that manual therapy corrects or significantly reduces a curve. My focus is on what pain and function actually respond to: assessing which movements and positions are aggravating, working on the muscles and joints of the back compensating for the curve and building a tailored exercise approach alongside any hands-on care. I won’t tell you that adjustments will straighten your spine, because the evidence doesn’t support that claim.

If scoliosis is causing discomfort and getting in the way of things you would rather be doing, come and talk it through. I offer a free 15-minute consultation, you can come in for a short no-obligation chat with no examination or treatment.

Book a free consultation

Or call for a chat on 01202 937568

Red Flags for Scoliosis Treatment

Most scoliosis isn’t dangerous and doesn’t need urgent attention. A few situations are worth checking with a GP promptly: rapid curve progression in a child or teenager over a few months, new numbness, weakness or changes in bladder or bowel function, back pain that wakes you at night or has no clear mechanical trigger or a curve appearing suddenly in an adult where none was previously known. These are uncommon, but point to something other than straightforward scoliosis.

Your First Visit to Bournemouth Chiropractic

If you come to see me about scoliosis, whether a curve identified in adolescence or a newer degenerative one, the first visit starts with understanding your history and what’s actually bothering you day to day, followed by a physical assessment of movement, posture and any areas compensating for the curve. For younger patients still growing, I’ll check whether they’re already under specialist care monitoring the curve and work alongside that. My first visit page and our FAQ’s page covers what to expect in more detail. and answers some common questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, chiropractic treatment can not straighten scoliosis. The evidence for manual therapy correcting or significantly reducing a structural curve is weak.[2] Bracing and specific exercise programmes have the strongest evidence for influencing curve progression in growing adolescents, and even then, results vary. Chiropractic can assist with the associated pain and symptoms to a greater degree.

Chiropractic care may help manage back pain and stiffness associated with scoliosis, but it cannot straighten or correct an established curve. My focus is on comfort, mobility and function for adults living with a curve, rather than claim to reverse the scoliosis itself.

There isn’t good evidence that manual therapy alone prevents progression.[2] For adolescents with curves at risk of progressing, bracing and specific exercise programmes have the strongest supporting evidence, usually overseen by a specialist.[1]

It can be worth it if pain, stiffness or function are the main concern, since manual therapy and exercise-based care may help with those, even where evidence for changing the curve is limited.[3] It isn’t a substitute for specialist monitoring if there’s any concern about progression.

In young people, the most common form is idiopathic scoliosis, developing during growth without a single clear cause. In adults, it’s often degenerative or de novo scoliosis, developing later in life as the spine’s discs and joints wear unevenly, even in someone who never had scoliosis before.

Whatever's behind your scoliosis pain, come and find out

Scoliosis affects people very differently and where it causes pain or stiffness the right first step is often a proper assessment to work out what is driving your symptoms. If that is getting in the way of your day-to-day activities, I would happily see you to find out whether chiropractic may help. I offer a free 15-minute consultation, a short no-obligation chat to talk through what is going on, with no examination or treatment and from there you can choose to book. During your first full booked appointment I will take a full medical history, examine you carefully and answer your questions about what is going on.

Scoliosis is something I assess regularly here in Bournemouth and Poole.

In many of the cases I see, chiropractic care may be a well-tolerated option for managing the associated pain and stiffness and I will explain clearly whether it is likely to help in your particular case. If I think you would be better served by your GP, a specialist or another practitioner, I will say so and help point you in the right direction. Either way, you will leave knowing more than when you arrived.

There is no pressure and no obligation, just come in, get assessed and let us find you a way forward.

Call or message me, whatever's easiest and we'll take it from there.

References and Further Reading

References

[1] Negrini S, Donzelli S, Aulisa AG, et al. 2016 SOSORT guidelines: orthopaedic and rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth. Scoliosis Spinal Disord. 2018;13:3. doi:10.1186/s13013-017-0145-8

[2] Everett CR, Patel RK. A systematic literature review of nonsurgical treatment in adult scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2007;32(19 Suppl):S130-S134. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e318134ea88

[3] Bayram F, Karatekin BD, Erhan B, Pasin O, Yumusakhuylu Y. Conservative treatment in adult degenerative scoliosis: a prospective cohort study. Maedica (Bucur). 2024;19(1):23-29. doi:10.26574/maedica.2024.19.1.23

[4] McAviney J, Mee J, Fazalbhoy A, Du Plessis J, Brown BT. A systematic literature review of spinal brace/orthosis treatment for adults with scoliosis between 1967 and 2018: clinical outcomes and harms data. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020. doi:10.1186/s12891-020-3095-x

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it a substitute for diagnosis, treatment, or guidance from a qualified healthcare practitioner. If you have any health concern, please consult your GP or another appropriately qualified clinician. Chiropractic treatment isn’t suitable for everyone. Suitability is assessed at your initial consultation, with referral to another healthcare professional made where appropriate. Treatment outcomes vary between individuals, and no guarantee of results is made or implied.

Practitioner: Leslie Budzynski D.C. | Doctor of Chiropractic | GCC registration: 00043 | BCA membership number: 0072

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