The difficulty with this arises because symptoms often vary from case to case and can be difficult to spot until the curvature is at a later stage of progression. For this reason, it is important to familiarise oneself with the range of symptoms which may be signs of scoliosis, in order to ensure that appropriate treatment is provided as early as possible. 

 

Here’s a closer look at some of the signs of scoliosis across all the age ranges:

In children under the age of five, the condition is referred to as early-onset or infantile scoliosis and can be classified as one of the several possible forms of the disease, including congenital, syndromic and neuromuscular. In those aged 3 or under, this can be difficult to detect and can have a number of outcomes depending on each case. For some, the curve may improve, while other cases will see the curve progress as the child continues to grow. To help spot possible symptoms and signs of scoliosis as soon as possible, here are a few signs to keep in mind: 

• A difference in shoulder height.
• Unusual head position (not centred with the rest of the body).
• Hip and shoulder blade height/position. 
• The way arms hang beside the body when standing.
• The sides of the back having an uneven appearance when bending forward.

 

This is the age group that is most commonly impacted by idiopathic scoliosis, developing during puberty as the body begins to grow more rapidly. The majority of curves tend to slow in progression as the individual matures, however, the most severe curves will continue to progress into adulthood. Although some scoliosis sufferers experience pain as a result of their condition, this is not true of every case. Meaning that other symptoms should also be taken into consideration alongside this. Signs of scoliosis in adolescents include:

• Rib hump/prominence: a lateral shift of the chest relative to the pelvis.
• Shoulder height asymmetry where one shoulder appears higher than the other.
• Torso leaning to the right or left, which can also result in one hip appearing higher, or one leg appearing longer than the other.
• Pain in the lower back (particularly inactive individuals).
• Uneven skin folds where one side indents more than the other.

Take a look at our video here on how to check for signs of scoliosis in your child:

 

While the signs of scoliosis are usually spotted at an earlier age, there are cases of scoliosis which develop or manifest themselves in older patients. Although early-onset cases and syndrome-connected forms of scoliosis are known to impact adults, the two main forms of adult scoliosis are adult idiopathic scoliosis and adult degenerative scoliosis. Both these forms of the disease are progressive over time, with those of 50 degrees progressing more rapidly than those beneath this threshold. In the case of degenerative scoliosis, this is caused by a degeneration of the discs, arthritis of the facet joints, and the collapse/wedging of disc spaces, typically seen in the lumbar area of the spine. Signs of scoliosis in adults include:

• Lower back pain and stiffness.
• Leaning forwards due to trapped nerves/loss of natural curve. 
• Numbness and shooting pains in the legs.
• Fatigue due to stress on lower back and leg muscles, which are placed under strain as a result of the curvature.
• Shortness of breath due to reduced lung capacity (in severe cases).