How Does Scoliosis Affect the Body?
Although the spine has a natural curvature, it is not designed to have a side-to-side curve. Scoliosis is the result of the spine curving laterally to form an S-shape 13. This can disrupt the body's alignment and result in pain and deformities 1. This condition affects 2 to 3 percent of the population in the U.S. Most cases of scoliosis do not have readily identifiable causes 13.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Initial Effects
When it first begins to develop, scoliosis generally does not cause any symptoms. Children with this disease will not feel any back pain, which means that it can easily go undiagnosed. The main symptoms of scoliosis early in life are uneven shoulder blades and waist, as well as one hip being higher than the other. The danger with this is that if scoliosis goes untreated it can progress and cause severe problems 3.
- When it first begins to develop, scoliosis generally does not cause any symptoms.
- Children with this disease will not feel any back pain, which means that it can easily go undiagnosed.
Arthritis
Degenerative Changes of the Thoracic Spine
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Because the spine becomes abnormally curved as a result of scoliosis, it can lead to the joints between the vertebrae becoming damaged 3. This can lead to chronic back arthritis, which can be painful and difficult to treat. People who had scoliosis as children are more likely to have chronic back pain as adults 3.
Kyphosis and Deformity
If scoliosis goes untreated the spine can continue progress from being curved to being fully twisted 3. This condition, known as kyphosis, can result in permanent deformity -- the person always appearing hunched. It can also be very painful.
Breathing Restriction
Lower Back Arthritis Symptoms
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In severe cases, scoliosis can cause the spine to twist to the point that it alters the location of the rib cage, causing it to be twisted around the body 3. This can lead to the ribs preventing the lungs from fully expanding, making breathing difficult. It can also lead to a rapid heart rate and frequent shortness of breath.
Gait Changes
Scoliosis can cause people to have their hips at different levels, which can cause alterations in the way they walk and stand 3. The primary change is that people with scoliosis have a more limited range of motion while they are walking, leading to them expending more energy and having a stiffer gait than normal.
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References
- National Scoliosis Foundation: Scoliosis -- Media and Community Guide
- National Health Service: Scoliosis
- European Spine Journal: Gait in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis -- Energy Cost Analysis
- Hey LA. (2018). Scoliosis in the adult. Atlas SJ, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate Inc.
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Scoliosis
- Horne JP, Flannery R, Usman S. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician. 2014;89(3):193-8.
- Boston Childlren's Hospital. Congenital Scoliosis
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo. Neuromuscular Scoliosis
- Weill Cornell Medicine. Center for Comprehensive Spine Care. Scoliosis: Symptoms, Types & Treatments
- Wang J, Zhang J, Xu R, Chen TG, Zhou KS, Zhang HH. Measurement of scoliosis Cobb angle by end vertebra tilt angle method. J Orthop Surg Res. 2018;13(1):223. doi:10.1186/s13018-018-0928-5
- Karimi MT, Rabczuk T. Scoliosis conservative treatment: A review of literature. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine. 2018;9(1):3-8. doi:10.4103/jcvjs.JCVJS_39_17
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons. (2019). Scoliosis.
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. (2019). Congenital Scoliosis.
- Dewan MC, Mummareddy N, Bonfield C. The influence of pregnancy on women with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Eur Spine J. 2018 Feb;27(2):253-63. doi:10.1007/s00586-017-5203-7
- Hey LA. (2018). Scoliosis in the adult. Atlas SJ, ed. Waltham, MA: UpToDate Inc.
- Horne JP, Flannery R, Usman S. Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Feb 1;89(3):193-98.
- Scoliosis Research Society. (2019). Scoliosis.
Writer Bio
Adam Cloe has been published in various scientific journals, including the "Journal of Biochemistry." He is currently a pathology resident at the University of Chicago. Cloe holds a Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry from Boston University, a M.D. from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in pathology from the University of Chicago.