When Do You Know Your Child Has Scoliosis & What To Do Next?

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Scoliosis affects people of all ages, but it is most commonly diagnosed in children. The most frequent type is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, typically identified between the ages of 10 and 18. Babies can also be born with scoliosis, known as congenital scoliosis, which can sometimes be detected as early as 8 to 12 weeks of gestation through ultrasound or echocardiogram. Babies with congenital scoliosis often have other congenital anomalies.

There are other forms of scoliosis affecting children as well. Infantile scoliosis is usually diagnosed between 6 months and 3 years of age, while juvenile scoliosis is diagnosed between 3 and 10 years old. After 18 years of age, scoliosis is considered adult scoliosis, as the patient has reached skeletal maturity. It’s worth noting that many adults diagnosed with scoliosis may have had it since childhood but were not diagnosed until later in life due to the gradual progression of symptoms.

Scoliosis is inherently a progressive condition, meaning it tends to worsen over time. In children, the earliest sign is usually postural deviation, such as uneven shoulders, unlevel hips, or asymmetrical shoulder blades. Other signs include a rib arch or deformity, arms and legs that appear to hang differently, or clothes that don’t fit properly. Despite these physical changes, most adolescents with scoliosis do not experience pain, so the condition often goes unnoticed.

As a parent, it is important to be vigilant about your child’s posture. Scoliosis screening typically involves taking the patient’s medical and family history, observing posture, and performing the Adam’s Forward Bending Test. In this test, the patient bends forward at a 90-degree angle, allowing the examiner to check for spinal asymmetries. This test is considered the gold standard for scoliosis screening but can sometimes result in false negatives, particularly for lumbar curves.

The Adam’s test is more effective in detecting thoracic scoliosis because the rib cage makes asymmetries more visible. For lumbar curves, the test may miss signs due to the absence of rib deformity. In such cases, a scoliometer, a tool that measures the angle of trunk rotation, can be used to detect scoliosis. However, this tool is also less effective for lumbar curves, so it is crucial to assess both the thoracic and lumbar regions during the test.

To confirm scoliosis, an X-ray is needed to identify the unnatural sideways curvature and rotation of the spine. The Cobb angle, a measurement taken from an X-ray, helps determine the severity of the scoliosis. A Cobb angle of 10 degrees or more is required for a scoliosis diagnosis. The larger the angle, the more severe the condition.

Once scoliosis is diagnosed, it is essential to monitor it closely, especially during growth spurts, as curves can worsen rapidly. Girls typically experience growth spurts around age 12, while boys do so around age 14 or 15. A negative test one year could become positive the next due to rapid growth.

For children newly diagnosed with scoliosis, the key decision is how to proceed with treatment. Traditional approaches often involve a “wait and see” method, monitoring the curve for worsening. Alternatively, a proactive approach aims to reduce the curve early on, minimizing the risk of it becoming severe.

At the Scoliosis Reduction Center®, we advocate for a proactive, conservative treatment approach. We prefer to address small curves early, rather than dealing with more severe curves later.

You can learn more about this topic here:

Ready for a consultation or want more information? You can contact us here:

00:00 When Do You Know Your Child Has Scoliosis & What To Do Next?
00:14 Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
00:37 Other Types of Scoliosis
01:29 Main Effects of Scoliosis in Children
02:30 Scoliosis Screening
04:20 Diagnosing Scoliosis
06:07 Treatment Choices: The Most Important