Back Pain Explained - What Is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis (pronounced sco-le-o-sis) is a common problem and describes a curvature of the spine sideways. When you look at the spine from the back, it should be straight. In a scoliotic spine, you will see deviations. The degree of curvature can be from minor to significant. It can affect people of all ages and is common in young children and teenagers.

What's the Cause?

It is not a well understood problem in terms the cause. Theories include genetic factors, congenital (from birth) factors, to muscular causes. Other spinal diseases can lead to a curvature of the spine such as spina bifida and cerebral palsy.

The highest percentage of scoliosis is described as idiopathic, which is the medical term meaning they don't know what the cause is! The spine forms the central pillar of the whole body and a scoliotic spine can have wide ranging effects not just in the low back.

Symptoms can vary from head and neck problems, shoulder problems, chest breathing problems, down to leg pain. It all depends on the severity of the curve and the ability of your body to compensate.

Scoliosis can cause changes to leg lengths

Ah, compensation! Yes, your body has an amazing ability to compensate for things. Scoliosis will cause your body to compensate in numerous ways and people may say things like you have one shoulder higher than another. If the curve is too much for your body to compensate, then pain can start to develop. It is my personal view that in many cases of idiopathic scoliosis (they dont know the cause) is due to the skeletal system. The pelvis forms the base and foundation of the entire spine. If the pelvis is not level, then the rest of the spine will not be.

Much like a house built on a hill, it will have to lean to compensate and so form a curve!

Many things can cause an unlevel spine, from leg length differences to tight muscles pulling the pelvis or spine out of alignment forming a curve.

The diagram to the right shows a leg length difference causing an uneven pelvis. This leads to a curvature higher up in the spine.

Scoliosis is a common spinal feature and though it is not well understood, there are treatments out there:

- Checking whether the pelvis is level
- Is there a true leg length difference?
- Is there a muscle imbalance, tight muscles pulling you 'out' of line?
- Is there some other pathology?

The best course of action is to see your doctor and be assessed by a musculoskeletal specialist such as a Physiotherapist.

Scoliosis is a Curvature of the Spine!