Value of X-Rays

We can all agree X-rays are not a treatment but they do provide a lot of value!!

Having an X-ray is a necessity to diagnose & monitor scoliosis identifying these 3 things:

• The level of curve severity
• The phase of growth
• The type of curve (thoracic, thoracolumbar, lumbar)

These factors will then determine the risk which will impact when the next X-ray should be scheduled. Most often about every 6 months (depending). Every month matters, especially during big growth periods. That is why I think every person can benefit from a PT assessment when scoliosis is initially diagnosed. Some mild curves may not need continuous PT. However, you learn resources, you learn things to watch out for, and you have a baseline that can be helpful to reassess every few months. Remember, we want TREATMENT instead of waiting to monitor things worsen.

If you have already started the process of diagnosis and you had x-rays done, you may have questions about the words used and what they mean. I created something for you!! Think of it as your “decoder” for the medical terms! Not only does it define things like Cobb angle & Risser score, but it also tells you some details about bracing and what factors make someone at a higher risk for curve progression.

Scoli Decoder