Scoliosis affects 5 to 7 million people in the United States. Scoliosis can begin at any age, but most often develops in adolescents between the ages of 10 and 15. Girls tend to be affected more than boys.

What is Scoliosis? Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. Normally, the spine should not curve to the side at all. The most common form of scoliosis is called “idiopathic scoliosis”, which means the cause is unknown. Many times scoliosis is first discovered when a parent or the child notices their shoulders are not even. One shoulder appears higher than the other. While this alone doesn’t mean you have scoliosis, it is a classic physical indication that scoliosis may be present. Most commonly, the right shoulder will be higher than the left. Another outward physical sign is what is called a “rib hump”. This means one side of the individuals back is raised higher than the other. The rib hump occurs because in many cases of scoliosis the spine also rotates in addition to being curved sideways. This rotation of the spine causes the rib cage to rotate, which creates the rib hump visible in the back. These two physical signs are the basis of the scoliosis screening that is used in schools. This basic scoliosis screening requires the patient to bend forward at the waist, allowing the observer to easily visualize the back for the presence of a rib hump.

Scoliosis is diagnosed with x-rays. The x-rays will reveal any sideways curvature and allow for the degree of the curvature to be measured. The degree is important for determining the chance of progression and the proper intervention needed. Any curvature greater than 10 degrees is considered significant and should be monitored by a doctor. Monitoring is important to ensure the curvature is not progressively worsening. Curves greater than 20 degrees may require bracing as an intervention, and curves greater than 40 degrees may require surgery. Surgery should only be utilized in severe cases when the function of the heart, lungs, and other organs are significantly affected by the scoliosis.

Fortunately, the majority of patients with scoliosis have curvatures less than 20 degrees. However, significant musculoskeletal pain can occur with scoliosis of any degree. In my next post I will discuss how chiropractic can help with scoliosis.