What parents and teens should know about scoliosis
Understanding the signs, how screening works and what treatment looks like can make the process feel much less overwhelming.
What scoliosis is
Scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine, often with some rotation of the vertebrae. Viewed from behind, a healthy spine looks straight; a spine with scoliosis can look like the letter S or C.
The most common type, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, appears during the growth spurt of the preteen and teen years and usually has no known cause. It is not caused by backpacks, poor posture or sports, so parents should not blame themselves or their child.
Signs parents can look for
Watch for one shoulder or shoulder blade that looks higher or sticks out more, uneven waist creases, one hip that looks more prominent, or clothes that hang unevenly. Many curves cause no pain, so a lack of pain does not rule scoliosis out.
A simple at-home check is the forward bend test. Have your child stand with feet together and bend forward at the waist with arms hanging down. Look from behind for a rib or lower-back bump on one side. If you see one, schedule a visit with your pediatrician.
Screening and diagnosis
Many schools and pediatric offices screen with the forward bend test. A screening only suggests that a closer look is needed. The diagnosis is confirmed with an X-ray, and the angle of the curve, called the Cobb angle, helps guide decisions.
Because curves can progress while a child is still growing, follow-up visits matter. Your clinician will consider the size of the curve, how much growing your child has left, and how it is changing.
Treatment options
Small curves are usually just watched with regular checkups. Moderate curves in a growing teen may be treated with a brace worn as prescribed, which aims to stop the curve from getting worse. Specialized physical therapy exercises may also be recommended.
Surgery is generally reserved for larger curves or those that keep progressing. Most teens with scoliosis stay active, play sports and live full lives. Talk with a spine specialist about what is right for your family, and ask questions at every step.
This information is for education only and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Always talk with your own clinician about your care.