Do you think your child could have a curve in his or her spine? Scoliosis, the medical term for an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, is most common in children between the ages of 10 and 16. But it can also occur in younger children or adults.
“When scoliosis curves, it rotates the ribs, so if you’re not sure, have your child bend forward,” says David Gurd, MD, Head of Pediatric Spinal Deformity Surgery at Cleveland Clinic. “If he or she has scoliosis, you’ll see an elevation where the scoliosis is turning the rib cage toward one side.”
Some other signs include:
- One shoulder higher than the other
- One shoulder blade sticking out farther than the other
- A lump or hump on one side of the back
- A slight leaning to one side
If you believe your child may have scoliosis, get an evaluation by your pediatrician or family physician, Dr. Gurd advises.
