Does Your Child Have Scoliosis?

Knowing the signs of scoliosis can help treat it early

You have your child’s back in all things — supporting them at home, in school or on the field. And when you get them the medical care they need, you literally have their back: Early detection of scoliosis is key to keeping their spines strong and healthy. Here’s what to look for.

What is scoliosis?

“Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve,” says Meagan Fernandez, DO, pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Geisinger. “Curves may take an ‘S’ or ‘C’ shape when viewed from behind, instead of appearing straight.” They can range from mild to severe, and they can affect different areas of the spine.

Scoliosis can develop at any age, but it’s most commonly diagnosed in adolescents.

Types of scoliosis include:

Idiopathic scoliosis

This is the most common type of scoliosis. It has no known cause, but it’s believed to run in families. Depending on when idiopathic scoliosis is diagnosed, your child’s healthcare provider may refer to it by different names.

Infantile scoliosis – diagnosed before age 3
Juvenile scoliosis – diagnosed between ages 4 and 10
Adolescent scoliosis – diagnosed between ages 11 and 18
Adult idiopathic scoliosis – diagnosed after age 18

Congenital scoliosis

This type is present at birth. Congenital scoliosis happens when the vertebrae don’t form normally during fetal development.

Neuromuscular scoliosis

This type of scoliosis occurs in people with underlying neuromuscular conditions. It’s typically found with neurological or muscular conditions like:

Cerebral palsy
Muscular dystrophy
Spina bifida

No matter the type, spotting scoliosis depends on recognizing the signs.

What are the signs of scoliosis?

If your child has scoliosis, they may have:

Shoulder blades that stick out
Uneven waist
One leg that’s longer than the other
Shoulders that aren’t level
A rib hump when bending over
Posture changes
Occasional back pain

“They may also lean to one side,” Dr. Fernandez says.

How is scoliosis diagnosed?

Scoliosis in children typically gets diagnosed through a combination of methods, including:

Physical exam

To diagnose scoliosis, your child’s healthcare provider will start with a physical exam. They may ask your child to bend forward to check for an uneven waistline or shoulders. If they find asymmetry in their back, they’ll order X-rays.

X-rays

Your child will have X-rays taken while they’re standing up to get images from the front and the side. This takes a measurement of the curvature of the spine in degrees. It also allows doctors to assess the entire spine to see where the curvature is.

Bone age study

It’s possible your pediatrician will recommend a bone age study. This helps determine how much growing your child has left and the risk the scoliosis will progress.

During this test, technicians take X-rays of your child’s hand and wrist. “Those images are compared to other images of normal bone development to calculate bone age,” Dr. Fernandez says.

Other imaging

For more information about the condition of your child's spine, their healthcare provider may order other imaging, like:

CT scans
MRIs

These types of imaging show the spinal cord, discs and other soft tissue around the spine.

Treating scoliosis

Most scoliosis is mild and doesn’t cause symptoms. Treatment depends on the type and severity, as well as your child’s age and overall health.

Their healthcare provider may recommend one or more of these methods.

Observation

“For children with small curves who are still growing, regular checkups can help monitor any progression of their curve,” Dr. Fernandez says.

Bracing

For moderate curves (25–40 degrees), your child’s provider may recommend a back brace. This brace will be custom fit to their body and worn for a set amount of time each day. “The brace won’t correct the curve, but it can stop it from progressing further,” says Dr. Fernandez.

Physical therapy

A special kind of physical therapy aimed at strengthening the core muscles and stretching the hamstring muscles is designed for scoliosis. A physical therapist will build a specific treatment plan with exercises designed to strengthen muscles in the back and core.

Surgery

If your child has a more severe curve (greater than 40 degrees), their healthcare provider may recommend surgery. A type of surgery called spinal fusion is used to correct the curvature and stabilize the spine. This keeps the curve from worsening.

Having their back

Because your child is unique, their provider will create a personalized treatment plan to help manage their scoliosis. We’ll have their back at every step so they can focus on what’s important to them — being a kid.