Symptoms of Scoliosis
Symptoms of scoliosis are experienced as a direct result of an unnatural
curving of the human spine. The spine begins curving to the side and then
twisting vertebrae upon vertebrae. It affects girls almost twice as often as
boys, and appears mainly in people ten years of age and older. It usually does
not cause pain in children and teens, so if pain presents itself, it is usually
something else. Back pain may or may not be felt in adults, and it is often hard
to determine whether the back pain is caused by the scoliosis or other symptoms
of another condition.
Scoliosis symptoms may include:
- One shoulder or hip may appear higher than the other
- Head appears off center
- Walk with a rolling gait
- One shoulder blade may stick out
- When bending over, ribs are higher on one side
- Flat waistline on one side
- Tire easily when doing things that use the trunk area a lot
The cause of 85% of scoliosis symptoms cases are undetermined, but in the
other 15% of cases there are two known types. Nonstructural or functional
scoliosis comes on as a result of another condition like muscle spasms. This
type of scoliosis symptoms are things like one leg being shorter than the other.
Structural scoliosis is brought on by another disease process like muscular
dystrophy, birth defects, connective tissue disorders, or Marfan Syndrome.
Most symptoms of scoliosis appear around age 10. Schools are usually on the
look out for this, so if your child's teachers express concern, take heed.
Parents may first notice scoliosis symptoms because their child's clothes may
not seem to fit properly. If you suspect scoliosis, contact your doctor.
Most mild cases of scoliosis, where the curve is less than 25 degrees, do not
require treatment. A back brace may be used if the curve is more than 25 degrees
but less than 30 degrees. If the curve is more than 30 degrees, surgery may be
considered to lessen or correct the symptoms of scoliosis. The treatment depends
more on how much growing the patient has left to do than on how severe the curve
in the spine is.
Scoliosis can not be prevented, but it can be treated with proper diagnosis.
If you observe symptoms of scoliosis in yourself or your child, be sure to seek
a doctor's opinion.
Symptoms of Scoliosis to S
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