Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a condition affecting the spine which will commonly occur in the teenage years, particularly in growth spurts. Scoliosis affects the growth of the spine in 3 dimensions, the most notable change normally being a sideways curvature of the spine. There is also a change in the rotation of the spine and the front to back curvature of the spine.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis occurs in approximately 3 per cent of people. Scoliosis is more common in girls, with the ratio of 10 girls to 1 boy having a curve which warrants treatment. Scoliosis is often missed as it is often not a painful condition.
Signs to look out for:

• You may notice a difference in your child’s ribs when they lean forward, one side of the ribs may be more raised than the other.
• Shoulder blade asymmetry: you may notice winging of your child’s shoulder blade, or that one should seems to be higher than the other
• Clothes not sitting evenly: often T- shirts or pants/ skirts may not seem to fit correctly or symmetrically.