Scoliosis may be a common condition but do you know that there are some facts you might not have known? It is caused by a curvature of the spine, which affects 2 in 100 people in Singapore, which is quite low but should not go unnoticed.
Read below to find out more about some facts about scoliosis you should know.
Some health conditions may improve with age; some worsen. Unfortunately, scoliosis belongs to the latter. Degenerative scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity in adults, and people with scoliosis have to learn how to better manage their condition as they age.
Some health conditions may improve with age; some worsen. Unfortunately, scoliosis belongs to the latter. Degenerative scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity in adults, and people with scoliosis have to learn how to better manage their condition as they age.
Some health conditions may improve with age; some worsen. Unfortunately, scoliosis belongs to the latter. Degenerative scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity in adults, and people with scoliosis have to learn how to better manage their condition as they age.
1. Early diagnosis is the key
Parents need to ensure that their children have a routine of going to medical checkups regularly for early detection of conditions like scoliosis. It is beneficial for the child if he is diagnosed with scoliosis before his growth spurt as the specialist or doctor can determine a treatment plan that aims to prevent the condition from getting worse over time as he grows. Scoliosis can be identified when one has uneven shoulders or hips and it is a painless condition that may get overlooked by people until it reaches the surgical procedure.
Children within the age range of 10 to 12 have started to be more private and not reliant on their parents. Parents are no longer in charge of bathing or dressing them up so signs of scoliosis in children may go unnoticed. Furthermore, scoliosis screening is not prevalent in schools so it is often left undetected in children. Hence, it is important that adults learn to notice the early symptoms of scoliosis.
1. Early diagnosis is the key
Parents need to ensure that their children have a routine of going to medical checkups regularly for early detection of conditions like scoliosis. It is beneficial for the child if he is diagnosed with scoliosis before his growth spurt as the specialist or doctor can determine a treatment plan that aims to prevent the condition from getting worse over time as he grows. Scoliosis can be identified when one has uneven shoulders or hips and it is a painless condition that may get overlooked by people until it reaches the surgical procedure.
Children within the age range of 10 to 12 have started to be more private and not reliant on their parents. Parents are no longer in charge of bathing or dressing them up so signs of scoliosis in children may go unnoticed. Furthermore, scoliosis screening is not prevalent in schools so it is often left undetected in children. Hence, it is important that adults learn to notice the early symptoms of scoliosis.
2. There is no known cause for scoliosis
Scoliosis seems to be a common condition yet the cause is unknown. Parents should not blame themselves if their children are diagnosed with scoliosis as there is no known method to prevent it from occurring. Some parents had a theory that bad posture or carrying heavy backpacks can lead to scoliosis as they affect the spine and the growing back, however, they are not.
This type of scoliosis is called idiopathic scoliosis which means that the exact cause is unclear. It is speculated that it may be due to a combination of genetics and environmental factors such as past injuries, hormonal changes and malnutrition but they are yet to be proven.
2. There is no known cause for scoliosis
Scoliosis seems to be a common condition yet the cause is unknown. Parents should not blame themselves if their children are diagnosed with scoliosis as there is no known method to prevent it from occurring. Some parents had a theory that bad posture or carrying heavy backpacks can lead to scoliosis as they affect the spine and the growing back, however, they are not.
This type of scoliosis is called idiopathic scoliosis which means that the exact cause is unclear. It is speculated that it may be due to a combination of genetics and environmental factors such as past injuries, hormonal changes and malnutrition but they are yet to be proven.
3. Scoliosis runs in families
When told that scoliosis can be passed down from family, people tend to be surprised as nobody in their family has it. In fact, someone is indeed diagnosed with scoliosis but it went unnoticed as it is deemed to be harmless. A survey has shown that there is a 30% chance that you might have scoliosis if your family members have it. However, it may be hard to detect at its early stages so you may have to observe closely if anyone seems to have uneven posture, hips sticking out or wearing clothes that are not evenly spread across the body.
Still, it is no one’s fault for a child to be diagnosed with scoliosis as the condition itself is not preventable. It is vital for children to continue getting lots of exercise and consuming a healthy diet for their general health although scoliosis cannot be determined. For a safety precaution, parents should send their children for checkups so that it can be treated and managed at an earlier stage.
3. Scoliosis runs in families
When told that scoliosis can be passed down from family, people tend to be surprised as nobody in their family has it. In fact, someone is indeed diagnosed with scoliosis but it went unnoticed as it is deemed to be harmless. A survey has shown that there is a 30% chance that you might have scoliosis if your family members have it. However, it may be hard to detect at its early stages so you may have to observe closely if anyone seems to have uneven posture, hips sticking out or wearing clothes that are not evenly spread across the body.
Still, it is no one’s fault for a child to be diagnosed with scoliosis as the condition itself is not preventable. It is vital for children to continue getting lots of exercise and consuming a healthy diet for their general health although scoliosis cannot be determined. For a safety precaution, parents should send their children for checkups so that it can be treated and managed at an earlier stage.
4. People with scoliosis can live normal lives
One might think that being diagnosed with scoliosis can have an impact on his life but the answer is no! Take, for instance, Usain Bolt, the famous Jamaican sprinter, who has garnered 9 Olympic Gold medals despite suffering from scoliosis. It is recommended by doctors that scoliosis patients partake in sports and core exercises as they can address scoliosis issues such as balancing issues, muscle weakness, perception-related issues (perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body) and more. With regular PSSE (Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises) and consistent monitoring, one can still lead a carefree life, even with scoliosis, although high impact activities have to be avoided.
4. People with scoliosis can live normal lives
One might think that being diagnosed with scoliosis can have an impact on his life but the answer is no! Take, for instance, Usain Bolt, the famous Jamaican sprinter, who has garnered 9 Olympic Gold medals despite suffering from scoliosis. It is recommended by doctors that scoliosis patients partake in sports and core exercises as they can address scoliosis issues such as balancing issues, muscle weakness, perception-related issues (perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body) and more. With regular and consistent monitoring, one can still lead a carefree life, even with scoliosis, although high impact activities have to be avoided.