Scoliosis is a common condition that is typically mild, but still warrants close monitoring. This article will detail some of the common signs of scoliosis, what doctors and experts think may be driving the majority of scoliosis diagnoses, and how to approach treatment if necessary. It will also detail news and cutting-edge developments in the research surrounding scoliosis.

Not all cases of scoliosis are created equal. So as always, the best advice is to speak to your primary care physician about your personal questions or concerns. At MidAmerica Orthopaedics, we offer treatment for scoliosis at both our Palos Hills and Mokena locations, with Pediatric Orthopaedic Specialist Dr. Prasad Gourineni providing quality care and treatment.

1)Symptoms

Scoliosis is characterized by a curvature of the spine. Cases are most commonly discovered shortly before a child reaches puberty, and they typically are discovered and diagnosed by x-ray. It often causes no pain or discomfort for the patient, but other visible symptoms can be present such as:

• An unbalanced waist line or shoulder blades
• Reduced range of motion
• Fatigue from maintaining balance for uneven posture

An unbalanced waist line or uneven shoulder blades is common for scoliosis patients and it can make participating in sports difficult or walking more laborious. This leads to the common symptom of fatigue as well, because with scoliosis, simply maintaining balance can be tiring. If symptoms are more severe than these and the spinal curvature is at a more dangerous level, surgery is typically recommended. At MidAmerica Orthopaedics, we offer both surgical and non-surgical procedures to remedy and minimize the day-to-day effects of scoliosis.

2)Causes

Scoliosis has always been somewhat of an enigma. Doctors have concluded that genetics play a role in the development of the condition in young children, but, historically, it has been unclear just how common that was or what percentage of cases were tied to genetics. That has now changed. While there are still plenty of cases with no known cause – called idiopathic scoliosis – recent studies have given more insight into the role of genetics.

For example, a study published by Paul R. Harrington, M.D., studied mothers of who have scoliosis and found that 27% of their daughters also had scoliosis. This gives more concrete evidence for what doctors have long suspected, but even with these recent developments, much remains unknown about the causes of scoliosis outside of heredity.

3)Treatments

The treatment scope surrounding scoliosis is fairly simple. For most cases of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, there is no treatment necessary other than regular check-ups to ensure that the spine curvature does not reach a level where more severe symptoms would arise.

However, there are still cases of more severe scoliosis, and MidAmerica Orthopaedics is prepared to help our patients through those as well. On a case-by-case basis, patients who have severe scoliosis have been recommended back braces to improve posture, muscle stimulation treatments, and surgery.

Additionally, for cases where surgery is necessary, MidAmerica also offers physical therapy and rehabilitation services. If you or a child of yours has scoliosis and you are looking for more answers and compassionate care, visit us at either of our clinics, or give us a call at (708) 237-7200.