The “Green June” campaign aims to alert the population to the deformity of the spine which mainly affects children and adolescents
Summary
June Green is an awareness campaign on scoliosis, a pathology that affects 2-4% of the world’s population. Symptoms can vary but include head misalignment, waist asymmetry and back pain. The diagnosis is made by a specialized doctor and treatments vary from therapeutic exercises, use of orthodontic appliances and surgery.
The month of June is known as “Green June” and marks an important awareness campaign by the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology, which began in 2003, with the aim of alerting the population about scoliosis and how important it is to diagnose it early.
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that, on average, 80% of the population suffers from back pain at least twice in their life. One of the main reasons for pain is scoliosis, which affects 2% to 4% of the world’s population.
In an interview with Earth youorthopedic doctor specialized in the spine and director of the NOT, Center of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Belo Horizonte, Daniel Oliveiraexplained the condition, its symptoms and available treatments.
According to the professional, scoliosis mainly affects children and adolescents and is a spinal deformity characterized by an abnormal lateral curvature. The condition can be diagnosed in different age groups, but is most common during a child’s period of rapid growth, between 10 and 15 years of age.
Symptoms
Your doctor says the symptoms of the deviation can vary, but it’s important to be aware of some warning signs. Among the most common:
- Waist asymmetry;
- Unequal shoulders;
- Pelvic tilt;
- Misalignment of the head in relation to the body;
- Back pain;
- Muscle fatigue.
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Diagnosis
The diagnosis of scoliosis must be made by a specialized doctor who, through certain methods and procedures, can identify and evaluate the presence and severity of the curvature of the spine.
Initially, a clinical evaluation is carried out, which includes a detailed medical history, the analysis of the symptoms reported by the patient, as well as an in-depth objective examination, where the person’s posture is observed, looking for asymmetries, inclinations or obvious misalignments of the body. vertebral column.
“Imaging tests are used to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate the extent of the curvature, the main one being x-rays of the region,” explains the specialist.
Scoliosis and exercises
The doctor explains that the practice of exercise for people with this condition will depend on the type of scoliosis. If it is idiopathic scoliosis there are no limitations to physical activity, on the contrary, it is advisable to do physical activity to keep the muscles strong and balanced.
“When we talk about adult scoliosis, which is often associated with degenerative processes and wear and tear of the spine, the evaluation is carried out individually. But normally physical activities that involve a lot of rotations of the trunk and twisting of the spine are less recommended,” says the orthopedist.
Weight training, cycling and pilates are the most suitable exercises for those suffering from this pathology.
Treatment
According to the orthopedist, treatment depends on several factors, such as the patient’s age, the degree of curvature of the spine and the risk of progression of the deformity.
Early diagnosis plays a fundamental role in the effectiveness of treatment, allowing simpler and more conservative therapeutic interventions such as physiotherapy, specific exercises and the use of braces to control and correct the curve of the spine, avoiding and reducing the need for more treatments. invasive, such as surgery.
“Surgical intervention occurs when the severity of the curvature cannot be corrected with other treatments and its objective is, in addition to obtaining a certain degree of correction, to prevent an even greater progression of the curve,” explains the professional.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
