Scoliosis:  Scoliosis is a term that refers to a right or left bend of the spinal column, when observing the spine from behind.  Scoliosis is a progressive curvature of the spine that can range in severity from mild to moderate to severe.  It can affect people of all ages; not only children and adolescents, but also adults. Scoliosis can result not only in an unleveled body, it can cause headaches, shortness of breath, back pain, digestive problems, menstrual-cycle disturbances, leg, hip and knee pain, chronic fatigue and mood swings. Less frequently than it currently is, Scoliosis must be treated with surgery, but most often it can be reduced or corrected through conservative means utilizing the Pettibon System for spine and posture rehabilitation.  Scoliosis can be either anatomical, meaning that it is caused by a congenital anomaly of one or more (misshapen) vertebrae in the spine, causing the spine to bend sideways.  Or, Scoliosis can be classified as functional, meaning that the spine has begun to bend as the result of imbalances in the spine or the body’s structure that have lost their proper alignment over time due to usually physical stresses, such as repeated or long standing stresses, postures or misalignments of the vertebral column.  The key to lessening or correcting Scoliosis is to first free the spine from its chronic positioning and then balance and strengthen the supportive and postural muscles so that they can hold the spine in a more erect position.  Too often overlooked, forward head posture must be reduced or corrected, and normal shock absorbing curves restored in the neck and lower back if Scoliosis is to be ameliorated.  The Pettibon System’s chief goals are to restore these shock absorbing neck and low back curves, as well as to improve forward head posture, and balance the supportive postural muscles of the whole spine.  Also add at end of scoliosis section: Spinal decompression therapy, coupled with the Pettibon protocol, greatly helps to overcome any resistance that the postural muscles may have toward change and speeds the reduction of scoliosis, ensuring better and speedier corrections.