Scoliosis – Symptoms and Causes

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves sideways. It often appears during the teen years.

Most childhood cases have no known cause, though some people with cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy may develop it.

Most scoliosis cases are mild. However, some curves get worse as children grow. Severe cases can cause disability and may reduce chest space, making breathing difficult.

Management approaches:

• Monitoring: Mild cases require regular check-ups with X-rays to track any changes.
• Bracing: Some children need braces to prevent the curve from worsening.
• Surgery: Severe curves might need surgical correction.

While mild scoliosis often needs no treatment, keeping track of any changes is important for proper care.

Signs of Scoliosis

Scoliosis often shows up as unevenness in the body. You might notice uneven shoulders or one shoulder blade that sticks out more.

The waist may look uneven, or one hip might sit higher than the other.

Sometimes one side of the rib cage juts forward. When a person with scoliosis bends forward, you might see a bump or prominence on one side of their back.

In most cases of scoliosis, the spine not only curves from side to side but also twists or rotates. This rotation makes the ribs or muscles stick out more on one side of the body than the other.

When You Should Contact a Doctor

It’s important to see a healthcare provider if you notice any signs of scoliosis in your child. The curves often develop slowly and without pain, making them easy to miss.

Many times, teachers, friends, or teammates notice scoliosis before parents do. Early detection can lead to better treatment options, so don’t wait if you spot these signs.

Causes

The exact cause of common scoliosis remains unknown to doctors, though genetic factors likely play a role since the condition often appears in multiple family members.

Several specific factors can lead to less common types of scoliosis:

• Neuromuscular conditions like cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy
• Birth defects affecting spinal bone development
• Childhood chest surgeries performed during infancy
• Spine trauma or infections
• Abnormalities of the spinal cord

These different causes can affect how the spine develops or functions, leading to the characteristic curve seen in scoliosis patients.

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase the chance of developing the most common type of scoliosis:

• Age: Most cases begin during adolescence when the body grows rapidly.
• Gender: While both boys and girls develop mild scoliosis at similar rates, girls face a higher risk of curve worsening that requires treatment.
• Family History: Scoliosis sometimes runs in families, though most children with this condition don’t have relatives with it.

These factors don’t cause scoliosis but may help predict who might need closer monitoring during growth years.

Complications

Scoliosis ranges from mild to severe, with more serious cases potentially causing several health issues. These complications can affect both physical health and mental wellbeing.

Breathing Difficulties

In severe scoliosis cases, the spine’s curvature can cause the rib cage to press against the lungs. This pressure limits lung expansion and reduces breathing capacity.

People with significant curves may experience:

• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty with physical activities
• Reduced exercise tolerance
• Lower oxygen levels in some cases

These breathing problems are more common when curves exceed 70 degrees, especially in the upper and middle back.

Chronic Back Pain

While mild scoliosis rarely causes pain in children, adults who had scoliosis as children may face long-term back problems.

Untreated or severe curves often lead to:

• Persistent lower back pain
• Muscle fatigue around the spine
• Disc degeneration issues
• Arthritis in spinal joints

The risk of chronic pain increases with larger curves (over 50 degrees) and when treatment is delayed or not provided.

Physical Appearance Changes

As scoliosis progresses, visible body asymmetry becomes more noticeable. These changes can include:

Appearance Change	Description
Uneven shoulders	One shoulder appears higher than the other
Uneven waistline	One hip may be more prominent
Rib prominence	Ribs on one side may stick out more during bending
Trunk shift	The upper body may appear off-center from the pelvis
Back asymmetry	One side of the back appears higher when bending forward

Psychological Impact

The visible changes from scoliosis can significantly affect a person’s self-image and emotional health. Common issues include:

• Self-consciousness about body appearance
• Social anxiety in situations where the curve might be noticed
• Reduced participation in activities requiring revealing clothing
• Lower self-esteem during developmental years

Teens with scoliosis often feel more affected by these issues during critical social development periods.

Degenerative Changes

Over time, untreated scoliosis can lead to increased wear and tear on the spine. This includes:

• Early disc degeneration
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of spaces in the spine)
• Nerve compression symptoms
• Limited mobility as the curve stiffens with age

These long-term complications emphasize why proper monitoring and treatment of scoliosis matters, even for seemingly mild cases.