Facts About Adolescent Scoliosis A normal spine is straight when viewed front or the back. Normally, when viewed from the side, the spine curves backwards in the chest area (kyphosis) and forward in the waist area (Lordosis). When viewed from the top down, all of the vertebrae should be facing forward. However, with scoliosis the spine curves to one side or the other in the thoracic and/or lumbar areas. From the top looking down through the center of the spine, some of the vertebrae are twisted which causes the ribs attached to the vertebrae to protrude, usually on the right side. Scoliosis is a condition that may appear in more than one member of a family in the same or different generations. It does not develop as a result of anything that a child or her parents did or failed to do. Poor posture or carrying a heavy book bag does not cause scoliosis. Scoliosis is a spinal deformity that usually appears during adolescence, although it may appear in younger children as well. According to the Scoliosis Research Society, about 10% of the adolescent population has some degree of scoliosis. This means that about 1,000,000 children just in the United States have scoliosis. About on fourth of these children, or 2%-3%, will require medical attention which may consist of observation for further progression of the curve, bracing or surgery, depending upon the degree of the curvature at the time of its detection. Some scoliosis may be so mild that treatment may never be necessary. Mild scoliosis occurs nearly as often in boys as in girls. More serious curves are five to eight times greater in girls than in boys. Studies conducted throughout the world show there is a very even occurrence of scoliosis. There is virtually no variation of racial or ethnic incidence.

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