| The sideways curving of the spine that often gets started in childhood, when
the bones of the spine are still growing is commonly referred to as Scoliosis.
In many cases, the exact cause of scoliosis is "idiopathic" or
unknown. Scoliosis is detected by uneven shoulder heights, a loss of structural
balance, or a change in posture.
It is believed that scoliosis is the result of a genetic or hereditary
problem or an adaptation to some type of trauma, such as the birth process, or
an injury, such as falling off a bicycle. It usually starts with problems in the
lower back.
Because spinal bones continue to grow well into the early 20s, if left
uncorrected, scoliosis often worsens.
Unfortunately, the most common treatment approach has been to wait and see
how bad it gets, resorting to unsightly braces, or eventually surgery, if it
progresses too far.
Current research in the U.S. and Britain is showing that idiopathic scoliosis
is a multifaceted disease that compromises all five of the body’s systems:
neurological, digestive, hormonal, muscular and osseous (bone). These newer
insights about the impact of the disease of scoliosis on a patient recognize
that the body’s systems work together in an integrated fashion. When one of the
body’s systems suffers a malady it can create problems with one or more of the
body’s other systems.
For additional information please visit the Scoliosis
Research Society.
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Did You Know
- Scoliosis more often tends to progress in girls than in boys,
therefore girls more commonly need treatment.
- Females have a risk of curve progression 10 times higher than males.
- Scoliosis can run in families.
- Adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis are at increased risk of
osteoporosis compared to the general pediatric population.
- There is a significant correlation of osteoporosis with idiopathic
scoliosis in adults.
- Gall bladder problems are more likely to occur in people with
scoliosis.
- There is not just one factor responsible for the spinal curvature of
idiopathic scoliosis.
- There is evidence that poor nutrition may play a role in idiopathic
scoliosis.
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