Signs of Scoliosis

Scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, is vitally important to recognize as early in life as possible.

Types

• There are generally 4 categories of scoliosis: idiopathic, congenital, neuromuscular and degenerative. However, 85 percent of all scoliosis cases are idiopathic, which means there's not really a particular reason for why the spine doesn't grow straight.

Causes

• Most doctors agree that scoliosis is hereditary; there are no obvious hereditary patterns, however. Scoliosis can skip generations and even worsen, or it can improve through various generations.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of scoliosis vary, but often someone who has scoliosis will have back pain or uneven shoulders. Scoliosis is usually checked by having someone to bend over; abnormalities can then be observed in the trunk area.

Treatments

• Treatments for scoliosis depend on the person and the severity of the spinal curvature. Children can often wear back braces to train the spine to grow straighter. In severe cases, surgery is recommended to straighten the spine.

Considerations

• Scoliosis surgery in adults is much less effective than in children for the simple fact that adult bones are less pliable. Therefore, it's very important to recognize the signs of scoliosis in children.