Why early detection of Scoliosis really does help get ahead of the curve

Scoliosis is often a hidden condition. It can go unnoticed in kids and teens, especially during winter months, or it is simply put down to ‘poor posture’. In adults, it can be mistaken for normal back pain, wear and tear, or just getting older.

The key to getting ahead of the scoliosis curve for all age groups, is early detection and early intervention. The longer a scoliosis remains hidden or ignored, the longer and often more difficult it can be to treat.

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve and rotate. This curvature can be mild or severe, and it can affect people ranging from infants and children, to adolescents and adults. Some people with scoliosis have a curve that is barely noticeable, while others have a curve that is severe enough to cause structural changes of the trunk as well as the spine, as well as health problems.

A change in your, or a loved one’s spine, may indicate the signs of a developing scoliosis. Visual changes like a visible curve, uneven shoulders or hips, a prominent shoulder blade or forward slouch, particularly in growing children and adolescents, can all be warning signs. A family history of scoliosis is also a reason to get checked.

Why early detection is important

Early detection of scoliosis allows for early intervention and treatment.  Catching a scoliosis early means more options for treatment, including non-surgical conservative approaches. Small curves can possibly be managed with a specific exercise rehabilitation program.  Scoliosis specific exercise, like ScoliBalance®, is one of the most non-invasive treatment options available to patients. Along with scoliosis bracing, it is also one of the most evidence-based approaches (1-5).

Curves that do not respond well enough to specific exercise programs, or curves that are only discovered once they have progressed to a significant degree, can generally be treated with scoliosis bracing, or in some rare cases surgery may be required. The aim of scoliosis bracing is usually to stop any worsening of the scoliosis, and where possible (children and teens) get the spine straighter. In most cases, a well-designed, custom 3D scoliosis brace, like ScoliBrace, can help a child avoid the need for surgery.

There is also a large body of published literature supporting scoliosis bracing as an effective treatment option, especially for growing children. In a multi-centre study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013, most adolescents treated with scoliosis bracing did not go on to require surgery (6).

Modern technology allows a more patient-centric approach

Modern technology such as 3D body scanning and custom 3D brace design, means that a significant scoliosis that is treated early enough in a child or teen, can have a good chance of a reduction in the curve.  By creating custom-designed braces based on a patient’s specific measurements and goals, it’s possible to create a brace that is more effective and more comfortable for the patient to wear.

Young children, even infants, can benefit from scoliosis bracing, and often very young patients can get rapid results. Scoliosis bracing for adults is a longer-term option, with the brace being more of a supportive device to stop progression and to help reduce pain, improve posture, and enhance quality of life.

What if scoliosis is not treated?

Without treatment, many scoliosis cases have a high chance that they will get worse. Research has shown that in teenagers, untreated scoliosis curves of more than 30 degrees or more have a high chance of progressing (7).  The effects of an untreated scoliosis in a patient can include uneven posture, a hunched back, loss of height, pain, and in severe cases heart and lung issues. When a scoliosis gets to this point, any treatment becomes difficult.

Early detection and early action always get the best possible outcomes.

This Scoliosis Awareness Month, let’s encourage regular checks in friends and family, for the signs of scoliosis to help ensure early detection and get ahead of the curve.

References

1. Monticone M, Ambrosini E, Cazzaniga D, Rocca B, Ferrante S. Active self-correction and task-oriented exercises reduce spinal deformity and improve quality of life in subjects with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Results of a randomised controlled trial. Eur Spine J. 2014 Jun;23(6):1204-14.
2. Negrini A,  NegriniM.G, Donzelli S, Romano M, Zaina F,  Negrini S. Scoliosis-specific exercises can reduce the progression of severe curves in adult idiopathic scoliosis: a long-term cohort study. Scoliosis. 2015; 10: 20.
3. Zhou Z, Liu F, Li R, Chen X. The effects of exercise therapy on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: An overview of systematic review and meta-analyses. Complement Ther Med. 2021 May;58:102697.
4. Weinstein S. The natural history of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, J Pediatr Orthop. 2019 Jul;39(Issue 6, Supplement 1 Suppl 1):S44-S46.
5. Negrini S, Grivas T.B, Kotwicki T, Maruyama T, Rigo M, Weiss H.R. Why do we treat adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? What we want to obtain and avoid for our patients. SOSORT 2005 Consensus paper, Scoliosis. 2006 Apr 10;1:4. doi: 10.1186/1748-7161-1-4.
6. Weinstein S, Dolan L, Wright J, Dobbs M. Effects of Bracing in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis. N Engl J Med. 2013 Oct 17;369(16):1512-21.
7. Asher A, Burton D. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: natural history and long term treatment effects, Scoliosis. 2006 Mar 31;1(1):2. doi: 10.1186/1748-7161-1-2.