Signs and Symptoms of Scoliosis:
Treating the Condition

Detecting scoliosis can be tricky. Symptoms are often subtle during the early stages, which can make them easy to dismiss.

In children, developing scoliosis often goes unnoticed until they reach adolescence and enter a rapid growth phase. In adults, it can be even harder to spot. 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. 

Knowing what to look for can make you more alert to the slight changes that can signal an abnormal curve in the spine. Catching the defect in its early stages provides more time to correct the problem before it becomes severe and creates deformity.

1. Family History of Scoliosis

The chances of developing scoliosis are — to some degree — greater if a sibling, parent, or grandparent has it. Around 3 in 10 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis have a family history of the condition, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (MD’s). Additional research has shown that of all the factors related to the development of scoliosis, genetics account for approximately 38%.

There are also several conditions that can increase the odds of scoliosis:

• A significant trauma or defect at birth, such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy
• Infections
• Unusually rapid growth spurts
• Trauma experienced during childhood

2. Bad Posture

The earliest visible signs of scoliosis can typically be observed in the way they stand. As the spine grows along its curve, it thrusts the shoulders, waist, and hips out of alignment. While the changes can be subtle, a lack of symmetry in posture often appears before the spine curve and deformity itself becomes apparent.

Visible concerns of scoliosis include:

• Tilted eye line
• Uneven shoulders
• One scapula sticks out
• One hip appears higher or more pronounced
• Tilted pelvis
• Mid-ear out of alignment with tip of shoulder (when viewed from the side)
• Center of eyes not horizontally aligned with center of hips
• Body leans to one side
• One leg appears shorter than the other
• Slight limp when walking
• Ribs stick out during a full forward bend

It is important to note that abnormal asymmetrical appearance is merely one of the problems related to idiopathic type of scoliosis — not the cause. We know genetic pre-disposition cause the onset of scoliosis, lead to neurotransmitter imbalances causing the curve’s progression, because the brain doesn’t recognize that the spine is out of alignment. As a result, it fails to re-direct the muscles to correct the spinal curvature and the spine continues to grow abnormally.

3. Ill-Fitting Clothes

Subtle changes in posture can make clothes appear ill-fitting or asymmetrical. For example, a dropped shoulder or tilted hips often cause one shirt sleeve or pant leg to hang lower than the other. The more severe the curves become, the more difficult it is to find clothes that fit properly.

Look for uneven:

• Neckline
• Shirt sleeves
• Hemline
• Pant legs

4. Back Pain

In most cases, scoliosis doesn’t limit movement or cause noticeable back pain from arthritis until the curves become severe in older adults. This is part of the reason why scoliosis is so often overlooked, especially in adulthood, even if they have only mild scoliosis.

For people with scoliosis, lower back pain caused by the condition can severely limit daily activities. A combination of non-drug pain relief, appropriate nutrient therapies and a scoliosis-specific rehabilitation program can alleviate pain without painkillers and prevent further curve progression. A scoliosis diagnosis doesn’t have to end in surgery. About 80% of cases are not highly progressive and will not cause severe deformity. And while it is common for doctors to recommend spinal fusion surgery in severe cases, there are many non-surgical scoliosis treatment options available.

Revolutionary treatments, such as active resistance therapy using the ScoliSMART Activity Suit (especially when combined with nutritional support and other techniques), have stabilized or reduced curvature in many scoliosis patients.