The symptoms of scoliosis are often hard to notice from just looking at a person. However, your daughter's swim coach is naturally attuned to watching the areas of the back where the signs of this health condition might occur. For instance, people with curvatures in their back may have uneven shoulders or one of the shoulder blades may be more prominent than the other. While your daughter's coach may not be qualified to make an accurate diagnosis, you should take their concerns seriously. Getting this condition diagnosed as early as possible helps your daughter enjoy the best outcomes for having a healthy back in the future.
1. Seek a Professional's Official Opinion
Your first step is to visit your child's doctor to mention your concerns. When a doctor suspects that a child might have a curve in their spine, they will perform a visual exam that involves having your child stand in different positions to check their posture and bending over so that the spine can be seen or felt. If they see noticeable issues, then your child may need further tests such as an x-ray to determine the severity of the curve and to rule out other back conditions. In certain cases, you may also be referred to a spinal specialist who works with moderate to severe curvatures.
2. Ask About Treatment Options
After a diagnosis, your child's doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan that takes into account her age, symptoms, and the severity of the curvature in her spine. In mild cases and with younger patients, the doctor may suggest watchful waiting with regular checkups to see if the curvature changes. Moderate cases of the condition in children who are still growing may be treated with a special brace that your daughter will wear for a prescribed amount of time. Physical therapy may also be ordered so that your daughter can strengthen the core muscles that help support the spine. In severe cases that do not respond to other treatments or with older teens, spinal surgery may be the best way to relive them from their symptoms.
3. Find Out If Sports Are Okay
You want your daughter to get the most out of life, and a diagnosis like this does not mean that she has to stop playing sports. However, you do need to make sure that the sports she plays are safe for her back. In most cases, your daughter can continue to do low impact forms of sports, and swimming is effective for helping her to stay competitive while also strengthening the muscles in her back. Just keep in mind to mention any new activities that she starts to her doctor to make sure that it is safe while she is getting treatment.
To learn more, contact a medical professional like C D Denison.