Scoliosis is a condition that people really don’t know much about. Most people only know that it is the curving of the spine in a manner that is definitely not normal. Beyond that, people know next to nothing about it, including the possible causes of the condition.
This is partly the reason why so many children live with scoliosis today, as their own parents know very little about the condition, including early detection and possible early treatments for it.
The important thing to remember in scoliosis, as with most other conditions, is that to know more, you have to ask the specialists and the experts right questions.
What is scoliosis?
It is the condition that usually manifests early in young children and adolescents where the spine curves sideways in an unnatural manner. Depending upon the severity of the condition, the spine may take on the shape of either the letter “S” or the letter “C”, rather than just being straight.
What are the different types of scoliosis?
There are a few known forms of scoliosis:
Congenital scoliosis – believed to be caused by a defect that manifested during birth. The spine shows signs of being either rotated or tilted, also affecting the way the ribs develop. Quite uncommon in compared to other scoliosis types.
Early-onset scoliosis is a type of scoliosis that could manifest between after birth to age 8. With this type of scoliosis often comes a host of other medical conditions, such as neuromuscular diseases like cerebral palsy or spina bifida, chest wall deformities, and even spinal tumors.
Idiopathic scoliosis, although this is the most common type of scoliosis, it also have roots that are, as of yet, unknown. This type of scoliosis usually manifests in adolescents between 10 to 18 years of age, although there have been documented cases of it in children under 8 years old, although these are generally classified as infant or juvenile scoliosis, which are both forms of early-onset scoliosis.
Neuromuscular scoliosis – this type is often identified with other complications that usually accompany it. Aside from the usual spinal curvature, people with neuromuscular scoliosis are often diagnosed as also having cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, conditions associated with paralysis, and spinal tumors.
What are the causes of scoliosis?
As there are different types of scoliosis, there are also different known causes for each. Congenital scoliosis is believed to have been cause by one of the bones in the spine becoming abnormally shaped at birth. Neuromuscular scoliosis, because of the fact that it usually comes with different complications, is associated with such.
Idiopathic scoliosis and early-onset scoliosis, however, to this day, do not have any conclusive and clear causes and orthopedic doctors can attest to this. Research is pointing to a genetic source, compounded by environmental factors.
What are the symptoms of scoliosis?
The most common symptoms are the marked differences that manifest on the body when a person has scoliosis, including uneven or different shoulder height, head is not centered relative to the body, difference in hip height, marked difference in the way the arms hang on the sides of the body, and the uneven positioning of the ribs. Pain is a another symptom which uncommon with adolescence but can still be present in some cases.
If you wish to know more about the questions you should ask your orthopedic about scoliosis, please visit https://www.treatingscoliosis.com/.
