Article by:
Amelia Grant
Scoliosis affects 2 to 3% of the population, or around six to nine million people, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
It primarily affects children and develops before their bone growth is complete. Even yet, juvenile scoliosis may persist until adulthood, or scoliosis may develop in the womb.
Despite the fact that scoliosis is a spinal deformity, the majority of cases are considered benign and rarely cause any problems or back pain.
Causes of Scoliosis
Scoliosis is sometimes misunderstood to be caused by poor posture, large backpacks, or not drinking enough milk. Those are urban legends, according to research.
Most types of scoliosis have no recognized cause. Some varieties are caused by an underlying ailment, such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy, while others are caused by birth defects.
Signs of Scoliosis
Although we all have small curvatures in our spines, persons with scoliosis may have a somewhat more noticeable curve.
Adults and children with scoliosis may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
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The head is slightly inclined to one side or not centered between the shoulders.
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There is a little slant to one side of the body.
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It's possible that one shoulder blade protrudes more than the other.
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The hips of one person are higher than the hips of the other.
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The rib cage on one side rises higher than the other.
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The waistline is asymmetrical.
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Hairy patches or dimples may appear on the skin over the spine, and the skin may be somewhat discolored.
Treatment for Scoliosis
A doctor will measure the curves of the spine and tell you the degrees of curvature after a medical examination (and maybe X-rays) confirms scoliosis. The curves may become less obvious as the child develops, or they may worsen.
Scoliosis rarely causes persistent back discomfort or makes daily tasks difficult. Scoliosis only requires surgery in a small percentage of patients.
Your scoliosis treatment approach is determined by your age and the severity of your spine curvature.
Observation
Observation is the cornerstone of treatment for those who are asymptomatic, have curves less than 25 degrees, or have stopped growing. A doctor will just monitor the curvature in this scenario.
Curves may stabilize without the need for bracing or treatment. You might go to the doctor every four to six months to see if the curves have gotten worse.
To guarantee that the curvature does not deteriorate into adulthood, scoliosis-related doctor appointments may be reduced to once a year or every few years.
Scoliosis Brace
Scoliosis bracing is one of the most common therapies. The purpose of bracing is to keep the spinal bend from getting worse. The ultimate goal is to avoid surgery altogether.
When scoliosis is discovered while the bones are still growing, bracing has a better chance of stabilizing or preventing further growth.
Physical therapy
Almost everyone with scoliosis, especially those with neuromuscular scoliosis or children with early-onset scoliosis, will benefit from physical therapy.
When scoliosis is present, physical therapy can assist in addressing underlying disorders like cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Physical therapy is frequently used in the treatment of scoliosis.
Casting
Because they are too young for surgery—or may not need it—casting is frequently used in infants and toddlers to try to straighten scoliosis.
It's also difficult to make a brace that fits a small youngster. The use of a cast to provide gentle traction can aid in the correction of the curve. The skin is protected by a soft liner and padding beneath the cast, and a hole in the cast allows the stomach to expand for feeding and breathing.
Halo Gravity Traction
Curves in the spine of some children with severe scoliosis might pinch the spinal cord or induce compression, making breathing difficult.
A halo—a metal ring that surrounds the child's head and attaches to a pulley system on the bed, walker, and wheelchair—encircles the head. Gentle traction helps to stretch out soft tissue and lengthen the spine. It is used to treat severe curvatures, usually in preparation for surgery to correct the curvature.
Scoliosis Surgery
Decompression of nerves that have become pinched in areas of arthritic accumulation or structural collapse targeted reconstruction of structurally failing areas and complex reconstructions with scoliotic curve correction through realignment and fusion are some of the types of surgery available.