| According to the National Scoliosis Foundation all | | | | positions, or sleeping on an old mattress. Scoliosis often |
| spines are curved if they are observed from the side, | | | | presents itself, or worsens, during the adolescence |
| when viewed from the front a normal spine should be | | | | growth spurt. |
| straight. However, a small percent of the population | | | | Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) at the present |
| have spines deformed enough to warrant treatment. | | | | time, is the most common deforming orthopedic |
| Scoliosis is a deformity of the spine that causes a | | | | condition in young children. This type of spinal curvature |
| noticeable curve when seen from the front, and | | | | is noticeable at or about puberty and is the most |
| almost always worsens over time. Your doctor will | | | | aggressive form which leads to progressive spinal |
| check for a family history of scoliosis, examine the | | | | curvature and vertebral rotation. In children it is |
| body externally to check for asymmetry and order | | | | associated with pain, reduced function and poor |
| x-rays if thought helpful. If the spinal curvature | | | | self-image. In adults it is associated with increased |
| becomes worse over time, the doctor will diagnose | | | | back pain, poor quality of life and disability. Estimates of |
| scoliosis. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is most | | | | prevalence of mild curvature, those varying from five |
| common type in younger children. | | | | to twenty degrees, is thought to be up to 3% of |
| For minor curvatures in children, a doctor may | | | | adolescents with a male to female ratio of 1:2. In |
| recommend monitoring the condition over time. Mild | | | | moderate to severe curves that may require medical |
| scoliosis in some children improves without treatment | | | | management, the prevalence varies between.03 |
| as they reach adolescence. | | | | and.09% with a male to female ratio of 1:7. |
| Scoliosis causes are poorly understood. In the case of | | | | Medical management includes close observation in |
| the most common form of scoliosis, Adolescent | | | | early stages of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and |
| Idiopathic Scoliosis, there is a clear hereditary | | | | bracing when curve progression is between 20 to 40. |
| connection from parent organisms to their offspring; it | | | | Surgical intervention may be recommended for curves |
| underlies much of genetics, but not all individuals who | | | | greater than 40. Although bracing and surgery provide |
| have two gene mutations will go on to develop | | | | benefit, neither is free of shortfalls. Bracing |
| symptoms. | | | | effectiveness is compromised by poor compliance and |
| Various causes have been implicated, but none has | | | | surgical intervention is associated with negative |
| consensus among scientists as the cause of scoliosis. | | | | side-effects (implant failure, wound infections and |
| Scoliosis is more common in females and is often | | | | increased morbidity) These findings (both benefit and |
| seen in patients with cerebral palsy or spinal bifida, | | | | side-effects) are mostly based upon observational |
| although this form of scoliosis is different from that | | | | designed studies without controls. |
| seen in children without these conditions. In some | | | | According to the Mayo Clinic, chiropractic, massage |
| cases, scoliosis exists at birth due to a congenital | | | | and muscle-strengthening exercises are not proven to |
| vertebral anomaly. Occasionally development of | | | | cure scoliosis. However, these alternative therapies |
| scoliosis during adolescence is due to an underlying | | | | may be used in conjunction with proven treatments to |
| anomaly such as a tethered spinal cord, but most | | | | reduce pain and suffering caused by scoliosis. |
| often the cause is unknown or idiopathic. Scoliosis | | | | Hope this article will be of some help to you. God bless. |
| does not come from slouching, sitting in awkward | | | | |