Although it is common among children and young people of school age, scoliosis is not associated with the weight of backpacks, a common concern for parents of students. Scoliosis is a deformity in which there is a lateral curvature in the front plane of the spine.
Although, as a rule, it is more evident spine deviation to one sidescoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine, with rotation and deviation in several planes.
Its cause is, in most cases, unknown and, therefore, it is not possible to prevent it. Scoliosis mainly affects healthy women in adolescence (adolescent idiopathic scoliosis) and at earlier ages: infantile idiopathic scoliosis (before age three) and juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (between three years of age and puberty). This deformity is estimated to affect approximately 2 to 3 percent of teenagers.
Although the cause of scoliosis remains unknown, its development has not been related to nutritional or postural factors, playing sports, using backpacks or carrying a heavy bag.
The scoliosis in which its origin is known is usually related to an underlying disease, with genetic and hereditary factors. It may be associated with neuromuscular disorders (such as cerebral palsy) or connective tissue disorders (such as marfan syndrome). When scoliosis is secondary to a spinal malformation, it is known as congenital scoliosis.
The most important problem related to scoliosis is the progression of the deformity and the resulting side effects such as breathing disorders.
The main warning signs are shoulders at different heights, one of the hips raised higher, uneven waist, body inclination to one side and prominence of the costal grid (thoracic hump) when flexing the spine forward.
After detection of the disease (where parents and teachers play an important role), the child or adolescent should be referred to a medical specialist. Diagnosis confirmation and follow-up are usually done by radiological methods.
Although it is common among children and young people of school age, scoliosis is not associated with the weight of backpacks, a common concern for parents of students. Scoliosis is a deformity in which there is a lateral curvature in the front plane of the spine.
Although, as a rule, it is more evident spine deviation to one sidescoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine, with rotation and deviation in several planes.
Its cause is, in most cases, unknown and, therefore, it is not possible to prevent it. Scoliosis mainly affects healthy women in adolescence (adolescent idiopathic scoliosis) and at earlier ages: infantile idiopathic scoliosis (before age three) and juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (between three years of age and puberty). This deformity is estimated to affect approximately 2 to 3 percent of teenagers.
Although the cause of scoliosis remains unknown, its development has not been related to nutritional or postural factors, playing sports, using backpacks or carrying a heavy bag.
The scoliosis in which its origin is known is usually related to an underlying disease, with genetic and hereditary factors. It may be associated with neuromuscular disorders (such as cerebral palsy) or connective tissue disorders (such as marfan syndrome). When scoliosis is secondary to a spinal malformation, it is known as congenital scoliosis.
The most important problem related to scoliosis is the progression of the deformity and the resulting side effects such as breathing disorders.
The main warning signs are shoulders at different heights, one of the hips raised higher, uneven waist, body inclination to one side and prominence of the costal grid (thoracic hump) when flexing the spine forward.
After detection of the disease (where parents and teachers play an important role), the child or adolescent should be referred to a medical specialist. Diagnosis confirmation and follow-up are usually done by radiological methods.
