Sideways spine curve: What all parents should know about scoliosis
The spine has a natural front-to-back curve. But about 2% of children and adolescents worldwide have an abnormal sideways S- or C-shaped curve of the spine, known as scoliosis. How can you tell if your child is one?
To help you find out, have them bend forward, knees straight, arms hanging loosely, as if trying to touch their toes. If one side of the rib cage is more prominent than the other, ie forms a hump or an arch, it could indicate scoliosis, says orthopaedist Dr Jens Seifert, head physician of the Spine Centre at the Asklepios Hohwald Specialist Clinic in Germany.
The condition is typically diagnosed between the ages of 10 and 12 during the growth spurt just before puberty. Girls are more affected than boys.
Other possible signs of scoliosis include uneven shoulders or one hip higher than the other. In most cases the cause is unknown, but the condition sometimes runs in families.
If you suspect your child may have scoliosis, Seifert advises that you take them to an orthopaedist soon. "You should have it checked out within a quarter year," he says, because the abnormal curvature can worsen as the child grows.
Specialists determine the severity of scoliosis by measuring the degree of curvature on a spinal X-ray image. "A curvature of 10 degrees is well treatable with physiotherapy," says Seifert, adding that a curvature of around 20 degrees also requires wearing an orthotic brace - at least at night.
In more severe cases, the child must wear the brace during the daytime, too, until their spine has stopped growing.
"Left untreated, scoliosis can lead to extremely serious complications," Seifert warns. The abnormal curvature of the spine can cause the rib cage to twist, reducing space for the internal organs and impeding heart and lung functioning.
Scoliosis can also have a psychosocial impact on schoolchildren. "They're often teased or excluded [by their peers] because they're obviously wearing a brace or regularly have physiotherapy appointments in the afternoon," Seifert says. At worse, this can cause them to neglect treatment, thereby allowing their scoliosis to worsen.
It can help to educate the child's milieu - including teachers - about the condition and its treatment. Bolstering the child's self-esteem and body image is naturally important as well.
Children with scoliosis can fully take part in physical education, according to Seifert, emphasizing that "plenty of exercise is also important for children with scoliosis, of course." Among the physical activities that particularly strengthen the core and back muscles are swimming and climbing.
