If you’re a parent, keeping your kids healthy is probably your number one priority. That’s why noticing that something doesn’t look quite right with your child’s spine may send you into a panic. Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature in the spine. It can occur at any age, but is most common during childhood. Although it can be concerning, scoliosis typically isn't something you need to panic about.
Detecting scoliosis
Your child's pediatrician will screen for scoliosis during his or her wellness exam, but chances are high that you'll be the first to notice something doesn't look quite right.
Some of the first things you may notice are:
- One of your child’s shoulders appears uneven.
- One shoulder blade is more prominent than the other.
- Your child’s waist appears uneven.
- One hip is higher than the other.
"If you have any concerns about it, you should come see a specialist," said Michael Chang, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon and independent member of the HonorHealth Medical Staff.
Treating scoliosis
If your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis, you may not need to do anything initially. Depending on the severity of the spine curvature, the first step is typically observation to see how the curvature changes over time. Bracing and surgery are additional treatment options, if necessary. If it turns out your child needs surgery, rest assured that they'll be in great hands with our spine surgeons at HonorHealth.
Facts you should know about scoliosis
Scoliosis is common. Scoliosis affects an estimated six to nine million people in the U.S., or about 2-3% of the U.S. population. "For pediatric spinal surgery, the most common problem we see is scoliosis," Dr. Chang said.
You didn’t cause your child’s scoliosis. Are you feeling guilty because you’ve been sending your child off to school with a backpack that weighs half as much as he does? Don’t. In most cases, scoliosis has no known cause, and there is no evidence to suggest that wearing a heavy backpack can cause scoliosis. This myth has persisted because scoliosis is most common in school age kids, when carrying heavy backpacks to and from school is common. Heavy backpacks have been linked with other back problems, such as back pain, so if you’re worried, consider a rolling backpack for your child.
You don’t need to keep your child out of sports. Remaining physically active is important for maintaining flexibility and strength, which have a protective effect against back pain. Keeping your child in sports won’t make your child’s scoliosis worse.
Learn more about spine care at HonorHealth.
