Hollywood actress, Shailene Woodley and sprinter Usain Bolt have something in common. Do you know what?

Both of them have Scoliosis.

Scoliosis affects 2-3% of the world population, with a higher incidence rate in females. There is also a tendency for scoliosis to develop in the late childhood.

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a medical condition where the spine becomes uneven and curved. The condition becomes visible in childhood and teen years as the body grows. It is most likely hereditary and girls are twice as likely to be affected than boys. However, scoliosis can also be caused by an unknown reason or an accident. In the majority of cases, people with scoliosis can be assisted to live a normal life with treatments and regular consultations with a Physiotherapist.

How do you identify Scoliosis?

There are many types of Scoliosis, each with their own unique identifiers. Some of the most commonly occuring signs, however, are as follows:

• Scoliosis develops gradually so it is difficult to spot on someone you see every day. Ill-fitting clothes such as different leg lengths can be a tell-tale sign.
• Check for body symmetry. Ask the child concerned to face you then touch their toes. Does their back make a flat line from hip to hip or is it sloped?
• In severe cases, respiratory issues and abdominal pain can point to degenerative scoliosis.
• Doctors can use a range of X-rays and scans in their diagnosis as well as checking their patients' range of motion and strength in their frame and muscles.
  
  

What is the Treatment?

There are multiple recommended treatments and management options for people with Scoliosis.

Exercise

Maintaining overall health and fitness is very important for people with scoliosis. However, before taking up any exercise program it is important to discuss the specific movements with your doctor first in order not to worsen the condition.

For example, typical circuit training such as lifting hand weights or jogging on a trampoline can put too much strain on the back. It should be noted that exercises will not prevent scoliosis from developing.

Shoe inserts

Not all scoliosis is due to abnormality of the spine. It might be that one leg is longer than the other. A shoe insert can even out the difference and thus prevent strain developing to the spine over time. This condition is known as functional scoliosis.

Braces

Children diagnosed with early onset scoliosis (aged under five years) have a degenerative condition that requires intervention. Without a back brace, their lungs and heart will not have the opportunity to develop adequately to support them in adulthood.

Older children and teens, with spine curvature under 40 or 50 degrees, can use back braces to prevent further deterioration of the condition. Some will need to wear the brace nearly all the time, others only at night.

Surgery

This is a recommended treatment only for severe cases of scoliosis. To be eligible for surgery, a scoliosis patient must have stopped growing and have a curvature over 50 degrees. The surgery is a permanent measure to correct the spine curvature as much as possible. The procedure involves fusing vertebrae together with stainless steel screws and a bone graft from the patient's own pelvis.

Although there is no cure for scoliosis, it rarely prevents someone from living a full life.