Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine in the upper back and/or lower back region. Medically, it is defined as a three-dimensional curvature deformity of the spine of more than 10 degrees. While a healthy spine forms a straight line when viewed from behind, in scoliosis the vertebrae shift sideways and at the same time rotate around their own axes. The curvature is sometimes noticed while standing upright, and sometimes it can be detected only when bending forward or through a physician's assessment and imaging.
What Causes Scoliosis
Scoliosis is grouped according to its different origins:
- Structural scoliosis: forms with no identifiable cause (idiopathic), of neuromuscular origin, congenital, traumatic or related to tumors.
- Non-structural scoliosis: forms caused by posture (postural), or related to a leg length difference, the hip joint or inflammatory causes.
The curvature may vary according to age, sex and its degree. Progression may be seen especially during adolescence, when growth accelerates; this process generally slows down once bone growth is complete.
Symptoms
- Clothes fitting the body asymmetrically
- One shoulder being higher than the other
- The shoulders and hips not being symmetrical
- Asymmetry in the back and shoulder blade area that becomes more pronounced when bending forward
Lower back and back pain is not always a finding in scoliosis. When the curvature is accompanied by pain, further assessment may be needed.
General Approach
Depending on the degree of the curvature and the person's condition, the methods followed may include regular observation, brace applications and, in advanced cases, surgery. During the growth period, the role of the brace in the scoliosis process is particularly important. Orthotic approaches for different health conditions such as scoliosis are planned and applied individually in line with the specialist physician's assessment and medical report.
This content is for informational purposes only; you should consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment.
