Naturally Healthy Parenting The parent's guide to a healthy family
The last thing you want as a parent is for your child to have some type of health problem. While everyone is bound to have a kid that gets a cold or the flu or even breaks a bone every once in a while, bigger illnesses and injuries can be very scary for both you and your child. One issue that can affect some children is scoliosis. If your child’s been diagnosed with scoliosis, you might be uncertain about what to do now and what some of your options are. So to help you in this area, here are three tips for helping your child with scoliosis.
Don’t Rush To Treatments
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, there are only a few cases where children with scoliosis will actually require treatment for this condition. Because of this, you might not even have to do anything, be it invasive or not, once your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis. Depending on the age of your child at the diagnosis and the extent of the curving of their spine, immediate treatment might not be the best option. At the very least, you should consider speaking to your child’s doctor about what the possibilities are if you choose to forgo any type of treatment or prolong treatment for some time for the comfort of your child.
Consider Trying Exercise Therapy
If you and your child do want to try something to help with his or her scoliosis, you might want to consider doing something simple before resorting to more extreme treatments. One of these smaller forms of treatment is exercise therapy. According to Anna Medaris Miller, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, exercise therapy usually involves a combination of stretching, breathing, and strengthening techniques to help your child gain a little more control over his or her body. While this form of treatment is new and hasn’t been completely scientifically proven yet, it could be something beneficial to try.
Wear The Brace Without Shame
In some cases, your child might be prescribed a brace to wear that will help straighten his or her spine. For some children or teens, this can be something that they’re embarrassed about or try to fight having to wear. But if you want to see the best results, it’s vital that the brace be worn as directed. To help your child come to terms with this, Michael Glotzbecker, a contributor to Boston Children’s Hospital, recommends that you and your child are open with friends and family members about what the brace is and why your child is wearing it. This can work wonders for helping your child wear his or her brace without shame.
If you have a child who’s been diagnosed with scoliosis, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you and your child with this new health issue.
