5 Facts about Scoliosis Every Parent Should Know

Scoliosis is a common spine condition often found in adolescents. Roughly 3 million new cases of the condition are diagnosed in the United States each year, with a majority of them identified as idiopathic scoliosis — a type of scoliosis that presents in children between 10 to 12 years old.
1 .Early diagnosis is the key.
It’s important for parents to make sure their children are receiving regular checkups so that conditions like scoliosis can be diagnosed and managed early. “If scoliosis can be diagnosed before the child has a growth spurt,” says Sponseller, “the provider can determine a treatment plan that prevents a bigger curve from forming during times of growth.”

Common signs of scoliosis include uneven shoulders or hips, but it is generally, a painless condition that may go unnoticed until a routine exam or physical. “Children around the age of 10 to 12 are usually becoming more private,” Sponseller notes, “and parents are no longer involved in activities like bathing or dressing them, when they may have otherwise noticed a change.”