Scoliosis in Children & Adults

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve sideways instead of maintaining its normal alignment. While the spine naturally curves forward and backward, scoliosis creates an abnormal side-to-side curve that may appear as an “S” or “C” shape.

This sideways spinal curvature can range from mild to severe and may affect posture, balance, movement and overall comfort.

Scoliosis can affect children, teens and adults. Some spinal curves are mild and require only monitoring, while others may progress over time and affect posture, balance, movement and overall comfort.

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Illustration comparing a healthy spine with scoliosis. Green spine indicates healthy, red spine shows abnormal curve.

Understanding scoliosis in children and adults

Scoliosis is most commonly diagnosed in children between the ages of 10 and 15. The most common type, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, develops without a clearly known cause and often appears during periods of rapid growth.

Adults may also develop scoliosis later in life due to age-related wear and tear on the spine. This condition is known as degenerative scoliosis and is often associated with arthritis, disc degeneration or osteoporosis.

As the spine curves and rotates, uneven pressure may develop on the muscles, joints and nerves surrounding the spine, causing back pain, stiffness, nerve irritation and changes in posture or mobility

Overview

Symptoms

The symptoms of scoliosis vary depending on the severity and location of the curve. Some common signs and symptoms include:

One shoulder or hip higher than the other
Uneven waistline or body alignment
One shoulder blade appearing more prominent
A visible curve in the spine
A rib hump or uneven back when bending forward
Back pain, stiffness or muscle fatigue
Numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs in some adults
Difficulty standing upright or walking comfortably

Children and teens with scoliosis may not have any pain, making posture changes one of the earliest signs parents notice.

Causes

The cause of scoliosis depends on the type and age of diagnosis. Common causes and risk factors include:

Idiopathic scoliosis with no clearly identifiable cause
Family history of scoliosis
Rapid growth during adolescence
Degenerative changes in the spine due to aging
Osteoporosis and weakening of the bones
Neuromuscular conditions such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy
Congenital spinal abnormalities present at birth
Previous spinal injury or surgery

Diagnosis

Our spine specialists use a comprehensive evaluation to diagnose scoliosis and determine the severity of the spinal curve. Your physician will review symptoms, medical history, posture and spinal alignment and perform a physical examination to assess movement, flexibility and balance. If needed, imaging including X-rays may be used to measure the curve and monitor changes over time.

Why treatment matters

Early diagnosis is especially important in children and adolescents because spinal curves may worsen during periods of rapid growth.

Getting a thorough evaluation and treatment can help slow progression, improve spinal alignment and reduce the risk of long-term complications. Treatment recommendations are based on age, symptoms and the severity of the curve and may include:

Observation and routine monitoring
Physical therapy and posture-focused exercises
Bracing for growing children and adolescents
Pain management and nonsurgical spine care
Minimally invasive procedures in some cases
Spine surgery for severe or progressive curves

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We offer leading-edge treatments for most spine and back conditions, including medications, bracing, injections, therapy and when needed, surgical options.

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