What causes scoliosis ?
Hi everyone,
Today I wanted to address a common question surrounding scoliosis, what causes it?
They are many theory's that scoliosis is caused by poor posture, but this most of the time, is not the reason why so many of us suffer with scoliosis.
In most cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown (what doctors call idiopathic).
Scoliosis can be caused by a vast amount of things, it can be genetically inherited ( passed down from a family member who also had the condition), this form of scoliosis is known as congenital.
In as many as 80% of cases, doctors don’t find the exact reason for a curved spine.
Some kinds of scoliosis do have clear causes. Doctors divide those curves into two types -- structural and non-structural.
In Non structural scoliosis, the spine works normally, but appears curved. This can occur as a result of one leg being shorter than the other, muscle spasms, and inflammations like appendicitis. When these problems have been treated the temporary scoliosis goes away.
In structural scoliosis, the curve of the spine is rigid and can’t be reversed.
Some cases of scoliosis can be a result of the following conditions -
- Cerebral Palsy
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Infections
- Tumours
- Genetic conditions like Marfan Syndrome and Down Syndrome
- Osteoporosis
Congenital scoliosis begins as a baby’s back develops before birth. Problems with the tiny bones in the back, called vertebrae, can cause the spine to curve. The vertebrae may be incomplete or fail to divide properly. Doctors may detect this condition when the child is born. Or, they may not find it until the teen years.
Family history and genetics can also be risk factors for idiopathic scoliosis.
Scoliosis can also be a result of age, this can be known as Degenerative Scoliosis.
Degenerative Scoliosis usually develops in the lower back ( lumbar) ,as the disks and joints of the spine begin to wear out as you age.
Today I wanted to address a common question surrounding scoliosis, what causes it?
They are many theory's that scoliosis is caused by poor posture, but this most of the time, is not the reason why so many of us suffer with scoliosis.
In most cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown (what doctors call idiopathic).
Scoliosis can be caused by a vast amount of things, it can be genetically inherited ( passed down from a family member who also had the condition), this form of scoliosis is known as congenital.
In as many as 80% of cases, doctors don’t find the exact reason for a curved spine.
Some kinds of scoliosis do have clear causes. Doctors divide those curves into two types -- structural and non-structural.
In Non structural scoliosis, the spine works normally, but appears curved. This can occur as a result of one leg being shorter than the other, muscle spasms, and inflammations like appendicitis. When these problems have been treated the temporary scoliosis goes away.
In structural scoliosis, the curve of the spine is rigid and can’t be reversed.
Some cases of scoliosis can be a result of the following conditions -
- Cerebral Palsy
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Infections
- Tumours
- Genetic conditions like Marfan Syndrome and Down Syndrome
- Osteoporosis
Congenital scoliosis begins as a baby’s back develops before birth. Problems with the tiny bones in the back, called vertebrae, can cause the spine to curve. The vertebrae may be incomplete or fail to divide properly. Doctors may detect this condition when the child is born. Or, they may not find it until the teen years.
Family history and genetics can also be risk factors for idiopathic scoliosis.
Scoliosis can also be a result of age, this can be known as Degenerative Scoliosis.
Degenerative Scoliosis usually develops in the lower back ( lumbar) ,as the disks and joints of the spine begin to wear out as you age.
Thank you for reading and I really hope you found this blog post useful. please feel free to leave a comment below if you would like some advice or would just like to talk about scoliosis.
Sadie xoxo
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