Scoliosis is a condition that causes a curve of the backbone or the spine. The spine should look straight when looking from the front and have a standard curve when you look from the side. But, when someone has scoliosis, the spine does not look straight but bends to the side. Many scoliosis cases are mild, where the angle of the curve is small. But if the curve measures 10 degrees or more, it is considered scoliosis.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a condition that affects approximately 2 percent of females and 0.5 percent of males. In many
cases, doctors do not know the cause of scoliosis. When the reason is unknown, that scoliosis is called
idiopathic. Some of the leading causes of scoliosis include:
- Congenital disabilities
- Cerebral palsy
- Infections
- Muscular dystrophy
- Tumors
- And genetic conditions such as Down syndrome and Marfan syndrome
Symptoms of scoliosis
- Unequal shoulders
- Uneven waist
- One shoulder blade appearing more protruding than the other
- One hip being higher than the other
Risk factors for developing scoliosis
Some of the common risk factors for developing scoliosis include:
* Sex – studies show that girls are at high risk of developing scoliosis than boys.
* Age – most symptoms of scoliosis starts to show between the age of 9 and 15.
* Family history – the condition can run in the family. Nevertheless, most kids with scoliosis do not have a family history of the disease.
Complications
Although many people with scoliosis have mild symptoms, there are some complications associated with the disorder. The main ones include:
• Chronic back pain – people who had scoliosis are likely to have chronic back problems.
• Appearance – in some cases, scoliosis can cause noticeable changes that include prominent ribs, unequal shoulders, and uneven hips.
• Lung and heart damage – severe cases of scoliosis can cause lung and heart damage. This makes it hard to breathe or the heart to pump.
If you have noticed some changes in your spine or your child’s spine, ensure you consult your doctor as soon as possible.
