What Causes Scoliosis?

Catching Scoliosis Early Allows For More Successful Treatment

The vast majority of scoliosis cases are considered “idiopathic”, which is a fancy term used by doctors that means the cause is unknown (Doctors HATE admitting when they don’t know something so they invented a fancy word to disguise that admission!). 

While in some cases there are readily identifiable causes for scoliosis development, such as a congenital difference in leg length that causes the pelvis to be tilted, or a mal-formed vertebra that the spine curves to compensate for, in most cases, there is no definite cause. 

In theory, scoliosis may develop as a consequence of uneven mechanical loading in the spine caused by various traumas, or possibly even just poor postural habits.  As one side of the spine takes on more mechanical stress, uneven growth occurs in children and adolescents, resulting in the curvature.  While this is still only a theory, it suggests the importance of having children and teenagers periodically checked for problems of spinal joint function and structural development. 

Early detection of scoliotic curve formation is essential to preventing major problems.  In most cases, if a developing scoliosis is detected early, non-surgical treatment is highly effective at stopping curve progression and often correcting the scoliosis.