While chiropractic care will not improve spinal curvature, it can help ease back pain or discomfort due to scoliosis on a short-term basis. Common side effects include soreness, stiffness, or headache.

Scoliosis is when a person’s spine develops a sideways curve, usually in the shape of an S or C.

Many people with scoliosis may not need any treatment at all, while others can benefit from nonsurgical treatments. Healthcare professionals typically only recommend surgery when the spinal curve is severe.

Some people with scoliosis may have back pain. Chiropractic care has the potential to ease back pain on a short-term basis. However, it’s unclear whether it can directly treat the spinal curvature. Keep reading to learn more.

What is chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care is a type of complementary and alternative medicine that focuses on the body’s ability to heal itself. People often see chiropractors for musculoskeletal issues with the goal of easing pain or correcting alignment problems.

Chiropractic treatment often involves spinal manipulation, a technique in which a chiropractor gives a controlled thrust to an area of your spine. Treatment may also involve relaxation techniques, exercise, and nutritional advice.

Generally speaking, chiropractic care has been found to be beneficial for scoliosis pain. However, it’s currently unclear whether it can help to directly address the curvature associated with scoliosis.

Chiropractic care for scoliosis pain

Often, individuals with scoliosis, develop back pain due to muscle imbalances, joint stress, and postural problems caused by spinal curvature. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, chiropractic treatment may be beneficial for treating short-term pain due to scoliosis.

A 2021 narrative review notes that spinal manipulation may be an effective way to manage spine pain.

A small 2020 study of people with degenerative scoliosis found that spinal manipulation reduced pain and improved vertical spinal alignment. However, it didn’t reduce the spinal curvature associated with scoliosis.

A 2019 case study reported that spinal manipulation and physical therapy exercises performed in eight visits over 4 months helped to lessen pain and improve function in someone who had had prior spinal fusions for their scoliosis.

Chiropractic to correct spinal curvature

Whether chiropractic care can directly help in reducing spinal curvature in scoliosis is controversial. It’s possible that chiropractic care may have a small effect on spinal curvature.

For example, a 2016 study involved five children undergoing chiropractic for scoliosis three times per week for 8 weeks. While spinal curvature decreased after 4 weeks of treatment, no further changes were seen after this time.

Reviews from 2023 and 2017 both noted that, while individual studies have reported curvature improvements, there isn’t enough good quality data to say for sure whether spinal manipulation is beneficial for scoliosis.

Overall, more high quality research with longer follow-up times is necessary.

Massage therapy is another nonsurgical treatment that may benefit people with scoliosis. Like chiropractic care, it may not improve spinal curvature. However, it may help to ease pain.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that massage therapy may lead to short-term improvement for different types of pain, including pain that affects the lower back, shoulders, or neck.

It’s not likely that chiropractic care will make scoliosis worse. However, there are some potential side effects to be aware of.

A 2015 study looked into the side effects reported by 189 adolescents and adults who had an average of 17 chiropractic visits each for their scoliosis. It found that:

  • the overall incidence of side effects was 29.7%
  • the most commonly reported side effect was muscle soreness (other common side effects included back or neck pain, headache, and stiffness)
  • almost all (99.9%) of side effects were mild
  • six cases of moderate side effects were reported, most of which were sprains and strains (no severe side effects occurred)
  • 5% of participants said that they felt worse after chiropractic care

Similarly, the NCCIH states that the most common side effects of spinal manipulation include worsened pain or discomfort, headache, and stiffness. There’s also a rare risk of spinal cord injury.

If you have only a mild curvature (less than 25 degrees), it’s possible that you won’t need to have treatment immediately. Instead, your doctor will follow up with X-rays every 6 to 12 months to make sure your scoliosis isn’t getting worse.

The main nonsurgical treatment for younger people with moderate curvatures is bracing. Wearing a brace can help to prevent your spinal curvature from worsening as you continue to grow. There are many types of braces available.

Other nonsurgical treatments don’t necessarily improve spinal curvature or prevent it from becoming worse. However, they may have other important benefits for people with scoliosis, such as:

  • improving range of motion, flexibility, or strength
  • easing back pain on a short-term basis
  • boosting quality of life

Examples of other nonsurgical treatments for scoliosis can include:

Healthcare professionals typically only recommend surgery for curvatures greater than 45 to 50 degrees. The main type of procedure is a spinal fusion.

Overall, chiropractic care is typically safe when it’s performed by a properly trained and licensed professional. In the United States, chiropractors must:

  • earn a doctor of chiropractic (DC) degree
  • pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exam
  • receive a license to practice chiropractic within their state

If you have concerns about how chiropractic care may affect your scoliosis, be sure to discuss these with your doctor prior to having chiropractic care.

Nonsurgical treatments may help to slightly improve the spinal curvature of scoliosis or can prevent it from becoming worse.

A surgery called a spinal fusion is the only treatment that can straighten the spine in people with scoliosis, although this typically still doesn’t completely straighten the spine. It may prevent the condition’s progression.

There’s limited research directly comparing physical therapy and chiropractic care for scoliosis. A 1998 study found that physical therapy and chiropractic care had similar effects and costs for the treatment of low back pain.

Chiropractic care may be safe after full recovery from scoliosis surgery. However, it is essential to speak with a healthcare professional before beginning chiropractic care following scoliosis surgery or any other back surgery.

While chiropractic care is unlikely to significantly improve spinal curvature in scoliosis, it may help to treat back pain or discomfort that can happen in people with more severe curvatures.

Generally speaking, chiropractic care is safe when performed by a professional who is properly trained and licensed. However, side effects like soreness, stiffness, and headache can occur.

If you’re interested in chiropractic care for your scoliosis, it’s important that you speak to a healthcare professional first. They can inform you of its various risks and benefits and can help you find a licensed practitioner.