Scoliosis definition, pain & causes

Scoliosis is when a person’s spine twists and curves to the side. Most people do have a curved spine, but if the curve is more than 10 degrees at the spine, then the person is likely to be diagnosed with scoliosis.

Scoliosis is thought to affect around 4% of the UK population. The condition can lead to many other health problems, such as:

• Back pain
• Balance and coordination issues
• Trouble breathing
• Cardiovascular problems

Scoliosis affects more women than men. It can affect people of any age, from babies to adults, but most often starts in children aged 10 to 15.

There are a variety of causes for scoliosis, including conditions such as cerebral palsy, Marfan syndrome and muscular dystrophy.

Scoliosis doesn’t normally improve without treatment, but it isn’t always a sign of anything serious. Treatment isn’t always needed if it’s mild.

Scoliosis symptoms

Signs of scoliosis include:

• a visibly curved spine
• leaning to one side
• uneven shoulders
• one shoulder or hip sticking out
• the ribs sticking out on one side
• clothes not fitting well

Scoliosis treatment

Treatment options include:

• bracing (a rigid plastic shell is worn to prevent the curve progressing)
• spinal fusion (surgery involving metal rods to fix the spine in place)

Surgery is only recommended if the patient’s curve has progressed to an angle of 40 degrees or more.

The Scoliosis SOS Clinic provide the UK’s only non-surgical treatment clinic for scoliosis sufferers (as well as those with hyperkyphosis and other spinal conditions), using physiotherapy techniques to combat the effects of this condition.

To find out more and to enquire about your child’s scoliosis treatment, follow the link to their website:  http://www.scoliosissos.com.

Fundraising for scoliosis treatment

We provide a fundraising platform for families wishing to raise funds for medical treatments not provided by the NHS. By choosing to fundraise through Tree of Hope, you will gain access to GiftAid, potential grants from Trusts and corporate donations. To find out more about how we can help your child, contact us today.