What is scoliosis

Most frequently asked questions by parents:

Does my child have a curved spine ? What is scoliosis ?

Scoliosis is most of referred to as lateral spinal curvature, but in fact is a curvature in three planes:

• Lateral curvature – if spine bends sideways to the left or to the right. It is a change in frontal plane. Observing a child from the back perspective (wearing only underwear) we will notice that the spine is C-shaped or backward C. We can suspect one-curve scoliosis then. If the spine looks S-shaped or backward S we can suspect two-curve scoliosis.

Correct posture

One curvature

Double curvature

• Observing our child from the side – their spine should be S-shaped. Both thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis should be visible. This is a proper curvature in sagittal plane. Any disfunctions within this plane will mean noticeable flattening or deepening of the curvature, e.g. chest will be significantly sunken, stomach and buttock will stick out or thoracic kyphosis will be flattened.

Correct posture

Incorrect posture
flat back

• Twisting of a spine along longitudinal axis, or rotation is a change within the transverse plane. If our child is standing in front of us we should ask them to bend over. When we notice that one side of the back is lifted a little more than the other side it means our child has so called “rib hump”. A change within the lumbar part is called “lumbar prominence”.

Correct posture

Incorrect posture
rib hump