Fast
Facts About Scoliosis
What Is Scoliosis?
Who
Has Scoliosis?
What
Causes Scoliosis?
How
Is Scoliosis Diagnosed?
How
Is Scoliosis Treated?
Can
Exercise Help?
About Other Treatments for Scoliosis
What Research Is Being Done on
Scoliosis?
What Is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis (sko-lee-O-sis) is a disorder in which there is
a sideways curve of the
spine, or backbone. Curves are often S-shaped or C-shaped. In most
people, there is no known cause for this curve. This is known as
idiopathic (id-ee-o-PATH-ik) scoliosis.
People with milder curves may only
need to visit their doctor for periodic exams. Some people who have
scoliosis need treatment.
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Who Has Scoliosis?
People of all ages can have
scoliosis. The most common type is idiopathic scoliosis in children
aged 10-12 and in their early teens. This is the time when children
are growing fast. Girls are more likely than boys to have this type
of scoliosis.
Scoliosis can run in families. A
child who has a parent, brother, or sister with idiopathic scoliosis
should have regular checkups by the family doctor.
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What Causes Scoliosis?
In most people with scoliosis the
cause is known. In other cases the cause is not
known.
Doctors classify curves as:
Nonstructural, which is when the
spine is structurally normal and the curve is temporary. In these
cases, the doctor will try to find and correct the cause.
Structural, which is when the spine
has a fixed curve. The cause could be a disease, injury, infection,
or birth defect.
top  How Is Scoliosis
Diagnosed?
Doctors use a medical
and family history, physical exam, and tests when checking a person
for scoliosis. An x- ray of the spine can help the doctor decide if
a person has scoliosis. The x- ray lets the doctor measure the curve
in degrees (such as 25 degrees) and see its location, shape,
and pattern.
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How Is Scoliosis
Treated?
Understanding scoliosis is
based on:
The person's age
How much more he or she is
likely to grow
The degree and pattern of the
curve
The type of scoliosis.
The doctor may recommend
observation, bracing, manipulative surgery, or invasive
surgery.
Observation:
In children and
adolescents whose parents are not yet ready for them
to undergo active treatment for their scoliosis,
observation is necessary to prevent them from developing a more
severe form of scoliosis. The doctor will check every 4 to 6
months to see if the curve is getting better or worse.
Bracing:
Doctors may advise wearing a
brace in conjunction with manipulative surgery to stop a curve from
getting worse. Bracing may be used when:
The person is still growing
and has a curve of more than 25 to 30 degrees.
The person is still growing
and has a curve between 20 and 29 degrees that is getting worse.
The person has at least 2
years of growth remaining and has a curve that is between 20
and 29 degrees. If a girl, she should not have started having
her monthly periods yet.
Manipulative
Surgery:
The curved spine of scoliosis
patients is functionally unbalanced and unhealthy. The
intervertebral joints of the spine commonly become fixated, stiff
and immobile on one side, causing the spine to curve. As a result,
the intervertebral disks become dehydrated and misshapen. Doctors
use manipulative surgery, which is a deep tissue manipulation under traction (that
does not involve a cutting of skin or muscle), to loosen these
fixated joints. This allows the misshapen intervertebral disks to
become rehydrated on both sides; and as a result, there
is straightening of the abnormal curvature.
Invasive Surgery:
Doctors use surgery to correct a curve or stop it from
getting worse when the person is still growing, the curve is more
than 45 degrees, and the curve is getting worse. Surgery often
involves fusing together two or more bones in the spine. The doctor
may also
put in a metal rod or other device. These devices are called
implants. They stay in the body and help keep the spine straight
after surgery.
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Can Exercise
Help?
Exercise programs have not
been shown to keep scoliosis from getting worse. But it is important
for all people, including those with scoliosis, to exercise and
remain physically fit. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking,
running, soccer, and gymnastics, helps keep bones strong. For both
boys and girls, exercising and playing sports improves their sense
of well-being.
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About Other Treatments for
Scoliosis
So far, the following
treatments have not been shown to keep curves from getting worse in
scoliosis:
Standard chiropractic
treatment
Electrical stimulation
Nutritional supplements
Exercise
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What Research Is Being Done on
Scoliosis?
Researchers are looking for
the causes of idiopathic scoliosis. They have studied genetics,
growth, and changes in the spine, muscles, and nerves. They are
studying how different treatments can help to straighten the spine
or keep curves from getting worse. They are also studying the
long-term effects of surgery and of untreated scoliosis.
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