By Kelly Frances
Remember when you were a kid and your mother told you to stop slouching and stand up straight? Turns out she had good reason to nag at you.
Scoliosis is that reason, a common medical condition in which a person’s spine is curved from side to side, causing the spine to appear shaped more like an ‘S’ or ‘C’ rather than a straight line.
Chiropractor and clinic owner Park Rin estimates that one in three Korean children suffer from scoliosis, which is thought to be inherited though as often appears in families with no history of the condition.
People can also develop scoliosis through poor habits and when left untreated, it can lead to a “hunched back.” In later life, scoliosis can cause pinched nerves and decreased body functioning, including problems with digestion, breathing, and chronic pain.
The Korean public school system checks student posture annually, helping to identify afflicted students.
Park explains that early detection is critical: “Once a patient gets into their 20s, it becomes much harder to correct their problem, so school nurses play an important role.”
Since scoliosis is typically painless for children, it can be easily missed by busy parents. Luckily, if a child develops the condition, there are options for treatment, and Park emphasizes that surgery ought to be a last resort.
“Even extreme scoliosis can be treated through changes in diet, increased exercise and therapy if it is caught early,” he said.
Non-surgical treatment of scoliosis has been common in the U.S. for over 30 years, but is relatively new in Korea. Park claims that many parents approach him in search of non-invasive options after having seen an orthopedic surgeon.
“We re-train the muscles to work with the bone to correct the curve; understanding that bones are moved by muscle and muscle can be taught to act differently,” Park explains.
Park was trained in the United States and currently owns four chiropractic clinics in Korea, two of which are in Seoul. He believes that early detection and commitment to muscular rehabilitation is the key to recovery. His approach typically involves three 90 minute sessions a week. Treatment includes guided exercise, modality (spinal traction), corrective massage, and nutritional advice.
Additionally, Park recommends supplementing the diet with glucosamine and Omega 3.
To learn more about Medi-Health Clinics, visit www.medi-health.co.kr
The writer is a freelancer from Ontario, Canada, and is currently living in Seoul, where she co-owns a Korean lifestyle website.