What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is not a disease. It just means that in an otherwise healthy child the spine is curved or twisted. There is no weakness of the back. Scoliosis is not infectious or contagious and it does not develop as a result of anything the child or its parents did or failed to do.

It usually appears during the fast growth of early teens, although it can also  affect younger children. There are many types of scoliosis, varying from slight to severe curvature. 

How to recognize it

Children should be examined bare-backed for scoliosis from time to time. This is easily done by getting the child to bend over from the waist while keeping the legs and arms straight and the palms together. From the rear, a clear rib bulge (as in the picture) will be visible if the child has scoliosis. A common sign of the problem is one shoulder blade being more prominent than the other, with the child tending to lean a little to one side. The hips may be uneven. The condition will not go away as the child gets older and the earlier the scoliosis is detected and treated, the better for the patient.

What to do about it

Successful treatment is available nowadays. Go first to your family doctor. If a curvature is confirmed, the doctor will refer the child to an orthopaedic consultant who specialises in the treatment of scoliosis and who will best be able to decide on the most suitable treatment for your child.

Scoliosis Association (UK)
Registered Charity Number 285290