If viewed from the side we all can be seen to have natural curves in our backs that is not seen when viewed from the front or back. However a person with scoliosis has a spine that curves from side to side and depending on how sever the condition is the curvature may or may not be noticeable to others. In sever cases the curve can be seen from any view. This is a medical condition that causes an abnormal curvature of the spine or backbone. The name comes from the Greek word skoliōsis, which means, “crooked condition”. A person with this disorder will have an S or C shaped spine.

The fact is that although it is treatable there is no cure for this condition and it is about two times more common in girls than it is in boys. This disorder is also hereditary. People that have the condition are likely to have children with it. Idiopathic is just one type of this disorder, but it is the most common. It is called idiopathic because it is unknown what causes this type of the disorder. Based on the age in which the disorder develops it can be infantile, juvenile or adolescent idiopathic.

Infantile occurs from birth to the age of 3 while juvenile occurs between the ages of 3 and 9. The curve progression may slow down as the child grows. Adolescent, which is the most common in the U.S., occurs between the ages of 10 and 18 around the time teenagers reach puberty.

Other forms of this condition include congenital, which is rare and is caused by an abnormally shaped bone that is present at birth. The causes of this condition are thought to be the absence of vertebrae, lack of detachment of the vertebrae, failure of the vertebrae to form normally and a partially formed vertebra. Degenerative is another type, which happens in adults because of a weakening of the spine from aging. Another type is neuromuscular, which is a lateral curvature of the spine caused by a neuromuscular disease like cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord tumors and other conditions.

An abnormal curve of the spine is the most common symptom of this disorder. Other symptoms include back pain, one shoulder or hip higher than the opposite side, one arm hanging lower than the other and in sever cases a shortness of breath and chest pain due to a difficulty of the heart and lungs to work properly. For the most part it is not a painful disorder, but some types can be.

The type of scoliosis and the severity of the curve determine what will be the proper treatment for the disorder. The main treatments are observation, bracing, and surgery. Observation is recommended when there is just a slight curvature of the spine and there is a chance that it may or may not get worse. Bracing is recommended for those that have a high risk of the curvature getting worse. A brace is used until the person stops growing. Braces can also relieve pain for adults. Surgery in used sever cases where the curve of the spine affect breathing or interfere with the care of a person, like people with spina bifida and cerebral palsy and where the curves are cosmetically unacceptable as an adult.

Although there is no cure for this disorder, early detection and treatment may keep the condition from getting worse. If you think you or your child may have it get to a doctor and get an examination. The doctor will be able to determine the type and severity of the disorder you have and recommend a treatment.

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