Key Things to Know About Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a medical condition that manifests by the curving of the spine. This affects an individual’s posture as the spine is curved into a C or S shape. The curve can be either to the right or left. The curvature mostly occurs on the upper or lower part of the spine but can occur elsewhere in the spine. The condition is common in girls than boys, especially in adolescence, and it can be mild or severe. Mostly, if not severe, it does not require medical attention. Even though most cases need no treatment, some cases are severe and need medical attention.
Causes of Scoliosis
At the moment there is no known cause for this condition. There has been speculation on genetics where doctors cite scoliosis that went unnoticed in a family member and passed down through generation. However, there have been reported cases of children as the first in the family.
People tend to think that carrying heavy objects, or bad posture can be the cause, but medical experts argue that there are no external forces linked to scoliosis. While some cases may be detected at birth, most cases are reported in the pre-teen and teens years. And some few cases are reported in adulthood.
Symptoms of Scoliosis
Some people have symptoms while others don’t, and still, some cases are known to go unnoticed. The most common symptom is uneven shoulder length and the head seeming like not in the center of the neck. Also, one hip of a person with scoliosis is higher than the other, and the ribs seem like they are pushed out.
Another common symptom, especially with children is their arms can’t hang out straight, and the two sides of their back have different heights when bending.
Treatment for Scoliosis
If a growing child has scoliosis, doctors manage it by putting external torso brace. This brace helps to prevent and control the bend on the spine. The brace does not affect the child’s activity and normal life. Sometimes the brace does not work, and there may need for surgery. The surgery is better performed in the early stages of diagnosis as it easier since a small part of the spines needs to be fused.
There are mild and severe cases of this condition. A mild case often does not require surgery while a severe one if untreated can cause extreme pain and further deformity for both children and adults. Some untreated severe cases can cause heart and lung damage.…