About the scoliosis

Scoliosis is a medical term for the abnormal curvature of the spine to one side. It can appear in any part of the spine, although it is most frequent in the chest area and in the lower part of the back. Thoracic scoliosis is a medical term for the curvature of the spine in the chest region, while lumbar scoliosis is the name for the curvature of the spine in the lower part of the back. There have been many researches about the causes of these spine disorders, and in these studies, it is concluded that, in approximately 80% of cases, the cause cannot be identified.

Symptoms of scoliosis in children

The most common warning signs of scoliosis in children are usually easily detected and can be seen by close observing. The child with this condition does not have the shoulders at the same height and one shoulder is higher than the other. Furthermore, the head is not centered directly above the pelvis because of the curvature of the spine to one side. It is also usual that the ribcage is asymmetric and that the ribs are not at the same height. In many cases, the children have one shoulder blade or one hip more prominent than the other. Uneven lengths of the legs and constant leaning to one side are also some of the symptoms of this type of the spine curvature in the children.

In cases of babies, there are several symptoms that can be noticed. For example, a bulge appears on one side of the chest. Furthermore, the baby is prone to constantly lying curved to one side. There are cases, when the scoliosis in babies causes shortness of breath and the pain in the chest.

Causes of scoliosis

As mentioned above, in the majority of the cases, the cause is undetected, so it is idiopathic scoliosis. However, there are certain reasons that are responsible for the occurrence of the curvature of the spine to the side. One of the causes includes neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, in which the nerves and the muscles are affected. Scoliosis can be congenital or present at birth, although it rarely happens. Congenital scoliosis occurs due to the improper spinal bones formation when the fetus was in the uterus. Furthermore, different heights of the legs, bad body posture and strenuous exercises can also cause the curvature of the spine to one side.