For many people the
condition that is known as scoliosis is a reality that they have to face.
Scoliosis refers to a condition in which there is an abnormal curvature of
the spine. It is not a disease since some outside agent does not cause it.
Scoliosis can be caused by congenital - that means it happened before or
during birth - developmental or degenerative problems. The most common
type of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis. Idiopathic is a medical term that is used to describe
something for which the cause is unknown. In most cases of scoliosis, the
cause is unknown.
While idiopathic scoliosis may be the most common form of the condition, it is not the
only one. Congenital scoliosis is a rather rare form of the condition
where the malformation of the spine occurs before birth while the fetus is
still in the womb. The condition usually develops during infancy.
Developmental scoliosis usually occurs in people where the spine curves
because of a weakness of the spinal muscles on either side of the spine or
some other underlying neurological problem. People who suffer from this
form of scoliosis also often suffer from some other neuromuscular
disorder. Degenerative scoliosis, as the name suggests, occurs because the
general degeneration of muscles and bones with age. This is usually seen
in adults and senior citizens but may occur in younger individuals with
degenerative diseases.
Idiopathic scoliosis, unlike the three mentioned before has no
known cause or underlying problem that causes a person to be more likely
to develop it. It often develops during adolescence when a person is
undergoing their greatest growth spurt and that is why it sometimes
progresses very quickly. While there is no known cause for this type of
scoliosis it has been remarked by researchers that it does appear to occur
within families and might be genetically carried over from one generation
to the next. Recently researchers have found what they believe to be the
gene that codes for scoliosis in some people.
Since people grow a lot
faster during adolescence the progression of the abnormal curvature of the
spine is often increased during this phase and it is imperative that some
treatment be administered to keep it under control. In most cases,
however, the curvature might not progress and no treatment will be
necessary. Scoliosis tends to be more pronounced and prevalent in girls
than in boys of the same age. The condition also progresses a lot faster
in girls than in boys and that is why girls often need to receive
treatment for the condition.
Idiopathic scoliosis and the related conditions result in a spinal
deformity. It does not cause the sufferer any more back pain than a normal
person would experience. There are various treatments for scoliosis that
include exercises, braces and surgery. Exercises and braces can help
people with a lesser degree of the condition to cope sufficiently and it
is only in extreme cases that surgery is suggested.
