Scoliosis: Facts and Figures

''Scoliosis affects five to seven million people in the US alone'' - AQA Website

''In more than 80% of cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown, this is known as idiopathic scoliosis'' - AQA Website

''4 out of 5 people with scoliosis have spinal curves of less than 20 degrees'' - AQA Website

''More than half of a million visits are made to doctors' offices each year for the evaluation and treatment of scoliosis'' - AQA Website

''Generally, the vast majority of scoliosis cases remain mild, don't progress and require little treatment'' - AQA Website

''If the spinal curvature is less than 10 degress, it is most likely simply a postural change'' - AQA Website

''In a group made up of young girls who have scoliosis, who have curvatures of 25 degrees or larger, never progressed in their scoliosis'' - AQA Website

''Surgery is often used in the few and quite rare occasions where the spinal curvature is 45 degrees or more and is still progressing. It may also be used if the curvature is at risk of affecting the heart, lungs or other vital organs'' - AQA Website

''Researchers are looking into the cause of idiopathic scoliosis. They are studying genetics, growth and changes in the spine, muscles and nerves'' - NIH Website

''Walking, running, football and gymnastics are all possible ways to keep the spine strong'' - NIH Website

''One of the most common visible symptom associated with idiopathic scoliosis is shoulder height asymmetry, wherein one shoulder appears higher than the other'' - SRS Website

''A prominence in the back or lump is the second most common sign of scoliosis in general'' - SRS Website

''Idiopathic scoliosis rarely causes pain and, in most cases, is minor. However, once it has been discovered, it is highly reccommended it is closely inspected by a medical professional in the event it is does require treatment'' - Spine-Health Website

''The most common kind of back brace is the "Boston brace" or, as it is most commonly referred to as the "underarm" brace. The brace is fitted to the child's body using custom moulded plastic. The Milkaukee brace is similar to the aforementioned "Boston brace", but it has a neck ring with vertical bars to hold it in place" - Spine-Health Website

"Scoliosis is more common in girls than boys, and girls with scoliosis are more likely to require treatment" - Kids Health

"Treatment can reduce scoliosis-induced spinal curvatures by 50%" - Spine-Health Website

"Not all forms of scoliosis result in surgery. Surgery on scoliosis depends on the location and length of the curvature" - Spine-Health Website

"Albeit the cause of idiopathic scoliosis is as of yet unknown, there are two key medical aspects that we know about it: a scoliosis curvature that is small or is of no risk of getting worse may not need treatment. However, a young person with a large scoliosis curvature may require treatment." - Spine-Health Website

"Even without an x-ray, there are still many ways to spot scoliosis. For example, one shoulder being higher than the other, one shoulder blade sticks out more, the waist appearing uneven, and the body tilting from one side to the other" - Spine-Health Website

"Aside from the obvious, there are other methods for easing back pain: maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding long periods of bed rest, wearing low-heeled shoes, sleeping on a medium firmness mattress and always warm up before doing any kind of exercise, even gardening" - ACA Website

"The treatment of scoliosis is divided in three key groups: observation: if the scoliosis is not seriously severe, your doctor or GP might suggest frequent check-ups, bracing: if your doctor or GP may recommend that you wear a back brace. This will not correct the scoliosis, but it will stop it from getting any worse. Finally, surgery: if the scoliosis is getting worse, even with the back brace, your doctor or GP will advise surgery. The most common operation is spinal fusion, it is also a long and complex operation with a low but serious risk of damage to the spinal cord" - Bupa UK Website

"In the 1960's, the best and most effective way to diagnose idiopathic scoliosis was to view the spinal curvature from the "posterior" (from behind the back)" - SpineUniverse Website

"Scoliosis is a medical term taken from the Greek word for curvature" - SpineUniverse Website

"There are three types of scoliosis that affect children: infantile scoliosis, which occurs before the age of 3. It is more frequent in boys and if left untreated, it can lead to severe spinal deformity, juvenile scoliosis, which occurs more frequently in girls between the ages of 3 and 10. It has a high risk of progressing and requires surgery, and Adolescent scoliosis AKA Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis or AIS: which occurs between the age of 10 and the age when the skeleton matures. AIS frequently occurs during adolescent growth spurts. It has an incredibly high risk of progressing, and often requires surgery" - SpineUniverse Website

"Approximately 2% to 3% of Americans at the age of 16 have scoliosis. Less than 0.1% have spinal curvatures of 40 degrees or more" - Osteoarthritis Health Center Website

"There are four main types of scoliosis: congenital scoliosis, which is caused by a bone abnormality at birth, neuromuscular scoliosis: the result of abnormal muscles or nerves. Frequently seen in people with spina bifida or cerebal palsy and can result in paralysis, degenerative scoliosis: possibly the result of traumatic bone collapse, a previous back operation or osteoporosis, and idiopathic scoliosis: a theory is that this type of scoliosis is inherited." - Osteoarthritis Health Center Website

''Another term for scoliosis is called congenital kyphosis" - Kids Health

"There are also other different kinds of back braces aimed at treating scoliosis: the Wilmington brace, the Providence brace, and the Charleston brace." - Kids Health