Scoliosis
January 19, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
What is scoliosis
Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine from side to side. It can have one curve, for a “C” shape or two curves for an “S” shape.
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, about 2% of people have scoliosis, but if there is scoliosis in your family, that rises to about 20%.
The most common type of scoliosis, found in children and young teens, is idiopathic scoliosis. It has no known cause. The children, most often girls, who are diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis are generally healthy and don’t have any other medical issues. Children with disabilities such as muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy will often develop scoliosis.
Adults can develop scoliosis as well. In some cases, they haven’t developed it as adults, but it was only discovered when they were adults. In other cases, deterioration to the spine causes the curves.
What are the symptoms?
Generally, unless the curves are very bad, scoliosis is only found during routine screening. Otherwise, some signs of scoliosis include:
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Elevated hips, one hip higher than the other
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Leaning to one side
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Prominent shoulder blade or shoulder blades
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Uneven shoulders
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Uneven waist
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One leg shorter than the other
Why does it cause pain?
Some people never experience pain from scoliosis, while others may have considerable pain. This will depend on how severe the curve or curves are and how the body must compensate.
For example, if the hips are quite uneven, leaving one leg considerably shorter than the other, the whole body is thrown out of balance when walking. This can cause pain, not only in the back, but in the hip and legs, as well.
What can be done?
If the scoliosis is caught early enough and is not too severe, doctors usually try what is called watchful waiting. If the scoliosis has progressed too far, often it is recommended that braces be used to try to manipulate the spine or to prevent it from getting worse. This should be done along with exercise, may physiotherapy, to strengthen the back and abdominal muscles.
In cases where the curve is too severe for bracing, surgery may be recommended. This may be necessary to prevent complications associated with scoliosis, such as heart and lung damage because the ribs become compressed due to the spine’s shape.
For more in-depth information, here are some sites that have reliable and up-to-date information:
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
