Summer time is fast approaching, and with holidays and days out planned, the shape of your child’s spine is probably the last thing on your mind right now.
However, summer is the time when you are most likely to see your pre-teen/teenage child’s back.
Scoliosis is usually idiopathic, meaning of unknown cause. Idiopathic scoliosis usually becomes apparent to parents around age 11-12, when children reach puberty and undergo rapid growth within a short period of time.
Here are some of the signs of scoliosis that, as a parent, you ought to look out for:
- Rib hump (details here)
- Different shoulder heights
- Leaning to one side
Back pain is also often associated with scoliosis, most commonly affecting the lower back region. Pain may also occur in the neck or shoulders depending on the position of the curve. It has been suggested that there is no correlation between the size of the patient’s curve and the level of pain they experience – some patients with large curves experience very little pain, while some patients with very mild curves experience significant pain.
I think my child has scoliosis – what do I need to do?
If you suspect that your child has scoliosis, please contact Scoliosis SOS today and one of our patient care coordinators will arrange an initial consultation. During this appointment, our consultant will take a radiation-free back scan of your child’s spine, along with various other measurements. We will then be able to assess your child’s condition and discuss a suitable treatment plan if necessary.
