scoliosis diagnosis Archives

When is Scoliosis Diagnosed

Scoliosis can occur at any stage of life, and the patient’s symptoms at time of diagnosis can vary hugely from one case to the next: one person might be entirely unaware of their spinal curvature until a doctor spots it on an X-ray, while the next person might be suffering from extreme pain and greatly reduced mobility. Today, we’d like to answer two different (but related) questions: who can diagnose scoliosis, and at what age is scoliosis usually diagnosed?

Who can diagnose scoliosis?

The first step to finding out whether or not you have scoliosis is visiting your GP, who will conduct an examination to see if you have an abnormally curved spine. Your GP will look for a number of different symptoms that may indicate the presence of scoliosis, including:

Uneven shoulder blades
Uneven hips
Leaning to one side
Back pain
Cardiovascular issues
Breathing problems

If your GP suspects that you may be suffering from scoliosis, you will be referred to the hospital for an X-ray scan. The images obtained during this scan will then be analysed by the hospital doctor, and this is when you will receive your scoliosis diagnosis if your spine is abnormally curved. (Remember, every spine is slightly curved – you will only be diagnosed with scoliosis if the angle of your spinal curve exceeds 10 degrees.) After you have been diagnosed with scoliosis, the next step is to attend a specialist consultation to discuss the best treatment route for your spinal condition.

At what age is scoliosis usually diagnosed?

Scoliosis affects people of all ages, and some people go many years before receiving a diagnosis. That said, idiopathic scoliosis – the most common form of scoliosis – is usually diagnosed when the patient is between 10 and 15 years old. The cause of idiopathic scoliosis is unknown, yet it accounts for around 80% of all cases. In some cases, scoliosis can also be diagnosed earlier in the patient’s life – for example, children who suffer from cerebral palsy may develop scoliosis as a result of this condition. Scoliosis also affects adults and the elderly. Some cases of idiopathic scoliosis are not diagnosed until adulthood, but there is also degenerative scoliosis, which occurs later in life due to the ageing process. If you are looking for an effective non-surgical scoliosis treatment option, please contact Scoliosis SOS today to arrange a consultation.

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The Adams Forward Bending Test

Have your child take off their top and stand with their back to you.

While your child is standing up straight, look for visible signs of scoliosis – do their shoulders, ribs, neck, waist and hips look symmetrical? Or do they appear to be skewed towards one side?

Now ask your child to bend forward at the waist.

Once your child is in the forward bending position, look at their back. Does one side of their rib cage look higher than the other?

Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, we provide effective non-surgical treatment for scoliosis sufferers of all ages. Click here to see before and after photos of our youngest patients, or get in touch today to arrange a consultation with us.

When is Scoliosis Diagnosed?

Who can diagnose scoliosis?

At what age is scoliosis usually diagnosed?

Scoliosis Test: How to Tell If Your Child Has Scoliosis

The Adams Forward Bending Test

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Who can diagnose scoliosis?

At what age is scoliosis usually diagnosed?

The Adams Forward Bending Test

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