What Is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a condition in which the straight vertical line of the spine develops a curvature toward either side. From the side view, the spine shows a slight roundness in the upper back and a degree of inward curvature in the lower back. The spine of a person with this condition appears to be curved when viewed from the back or front.
What Causes Scoliosis?
There are several different causes of this condition:
Neuromuscular scoliosis: It is caused by abnormal nerves or muscles. It is often seen in people having cerebral palsy or spina bifida, or in those experiencing conditions associated with paralysis.
Congenital scoliosis: Occurs due to bone abnormality which is present at birth.
Idiopathic scoliosis: Even though it is the most common type of scoliosis, the main cause has not been identified yet. A number of studies show that idiopathic scoliosis may be inherited.
Degenerative scoliosis: Caused by bone collapse or osteoporosis, this form of scoliosis tends to develop later in life.
What Are The Symptoms?
The most evident symptom of scoliosis is the unusual curvature of the spine. The curve may not be very noticeable if it’s mild. However, the affected person may have an uneven waist, or a one shoulder being higher than the other.
Some other symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Rib pain
- Back pain
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle Spasms
- Neck pain