Scoliosis

Everyone's spine has normal curves, those that round our shoulders and curve our low back slightly inward.  But some people have spines that also curve from side to side.  This condition is called scoliosis.  Unlike poor posture, these curves can't be corrected by simply standing up straight.  On X-ray, the spine of a person with scoliosis looks more like an "S" or a "C" than a straight line.   Some of the bones may also have rotated, making the person's waist or shoulders appear uneven.

There are three main types of Scoliosis:

• Congenital Scoliosis caused by abnormal vertebral formation
• Neuromuscular Scoliosis, especially found in those patients who do not walk because of their underlying neurological disease
• Idiopathic Scoliosis seen in three age groups: infantile, juvenile and adolescent

Related Links:
See also Idiopathic Scoliosis