Does everyone have a little scoliosis?

Does everyone have a little scoliosis?

Does everyone have a little scoliosis?

No one has a perfectly straight back – everyone’s spine is a little bit curved, and this causes no problems in most cases. Scoliosis is only diagnosed when the angle of curve exceeds 10 degrees.

Is having scoliosis normal?

Scoliosis is a common spine condition often found in adolescents. Roughly 3 million new cases of the condition are diagnosed in the United States each year, with a majority of them identified as idiopathic scoliosis — a type of scoliosis that presents in children between 10 to 12 years old.

Can scoliosis happen at any age?

Although scoliosis can develop at any age, including infantile (age birth-3), Juvenile (age 3-10), adolescent (age 10-18) and adult (> age 18), the most common time to detect curves are in late childhood/early teen years.

Can scoliosis be normal?

Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some spine deformities continue to get more severe as children grow. Severe scoliosis can be disabling. An especially severe spinal curve can reduce the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly.

Is scoliosis a turn off?

As scoliosis is an incurable and progressive condition, it will neither go away, nor fix itself without treatment.

Where does scoliosis usually occur in an adult?

In general, most scoliosis in adolescents occurs in the thoracic or rib cage portion of the spine. In adults the main concern is typically in the lumbar or lower spine. This portion of the spine is most susceptible to the changes seen with aging or degeneration. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Do you have a family history of scoliosis?

Around three in 10 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis have a family history of the condition, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Additional research has shown that of all the factors related to the development of scoliosis, genetics account for approximately 38%.

Can you have scoliosis if you have no symptoms?

Though scoliosis itself is painless, the normal age-related degeneration of the spine may lead to symptoms. These symptoms are treated the same whether there is scoliosis or not. Scoliosis only becomes a factor when surgery is being considered. Changes in the appearance of the body are also possible depending on the degree of the spinal curve.

How often does scoliosis go undiagnosed in adults?

One study found that the condition remained undetected in 67% of adult back-pain patients with scoliosis — particularly when the spinal curvature was mild. Even patients with moderate to severe curvature went undiagnosed more than 10% of the time.

What doctor should I see if I have scoliosis?

If you suspect you have scoliosis symptoms, you should see your family doctor. Your doctor may take a family medical history, examine you, ask you questions about your symptoms, and take x-rays. They may treat you or refer you to a specialist, such as an orthopedic doctor, for further tests and treatment.

What does I mean when I say I have scoliosis?

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. The normal shape of a person’s spine includes a curve at the top of the shoulder and a curve at the lower back. If your spine is curved from side to side or in an “S” or “C” shape, you might have scoliosis.

Does scoliosis ever get better on it’s own?

Unfortunately, scoliosis does not usually get better on its own. Very minor spinal curves may improve with time, but this is very rare and only happens in the mildest cases of scoliosis.

Can you cure scoliosis without surgery?

Many cases of idiopathic scoliosis can be cured without surgery. Since scoliosis is defined as a lateral deviation of the spine exceeding 10 degrees, a cure is considered to be any treatment that is able to reduce scoliosis to under 10 degrees.