Scoliosis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Scoliosis is a disorder or disorder characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine.
The spine is made up of a stack of rectangular building blocks called vertebrae. Under normal conditions, the spine forms a curve from the shoulders down and looks straight from behind.
The bones will only appear slightly curved when viewed from the side. Well, in people with scoliosis, the bones will appear curved to the side even though viewed from behind.
This arch usually forms the letter “C” or “S”.
There are three types of scoliosis, namely:
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Idiopathic Scoliosis
Idiopathic scoliosis develops in the early teens, or around the age of 10. The cause of this scoliosis is unknown. As the child grows, the scoliosis can get worse.
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Congenital Scoliosis
In scoliosis, a curvature of the spine develops because the vertebrae are out of shape. The diagnosis of congenital scoliosis can be made more quickly in early infancy if there are signs of scoliosis from birth.
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Neuromuscular Scoliosis
People with conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida and muscular dystrophy, the muscles are often weak and imbalanced, may be at risk of developing scoliosis.
Symptoms
The condition of scoliosis is usually not recognized. Parents only realize scoliosis when the child grows up, that is, the shoulders are not the same height or the hips are not the same.
In this situation, usually the degree of curvature is more than 30 degrees.
In addition, the following are the characteristics of scoliosis that can appear:
- The waist is not aligned
- The head is not parallel to the midline of the body
- Protrusion of the scapula on one side
- When standing straight, the arms experience a difference in height
- Difficulty standing straight
- Some people with scoliosis complain of pain, weakness, and numbness in the legs
Reason
The causes of scoliosis can be differentiated according to the type, including:
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Idiopathic Scoliosis
Until now, experts still don’t know what causes idiopathic scoliosis for sure.
That is why scoliosis is difficult to prevent. However, nearly 80 percent of people with scoliosis fall into this category.
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Congenital Scoliosis
The cause of this type of scoliosis is due to the process of forming the spine which is not perfect/or grows normally when the baby is still in the womb.
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Degenerative Scoliosis
This type of scoliosis occurs due to damage to the spine that takes place slowly.
Several diseases such as Parkinson’s and osteoporosis are thought to have contributed to the occurrence of degenerative scoliosis.
Risk Factors
Here are some risk factors for scoliosis:
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Age
Signs and symptoms of scoliosis most often begin to appear during adolescence.
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Gender
Although boys and girls experience mild scoliosis at about the same rate, girls are at a much higher risk of worsening and needing treatment.
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Family history
Scoliosis can also run in families.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of scoliosis can be made through a physical examination, which includes the areas of the shoulders, spine, ribs and hips. The goal is to see if there is an abnormal curvature or bulge in that part.
In addition to a physical examination, the doctor can also carry out supporting examinations. Tests to diagnose scoliosis include:
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X-rays and x-rays
The use of radiation procedures is necessary to obtain an image of the spine.
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MRI
The examination is carried out using radio waves and magnets to obtain images of the spine and surrounding tissue.
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CT scan
The examination process is carried out to get a 3-dimensional picture of the skeletal framework.
Treatment
Scoliosis treatment is carried out according to the severity of the curvature of the spine. Apart from that, the doctor will also consider the age factor and the type of scoliosis.
But in general, the treatment and treatment of scoliosis that can be done are:
1. Observation
Monitoring is carried out if the degree of scoliosis is not very severe, namely 25 degrees on bones that are still growing or 50 degrees on bones that have stopped growing. The average bone stops growing at the age of 19 years.
2. Orthosis
This is the use of a support device known as a brace. Usually, the indication for using this tool is the degree of bending of about 30-40 degrees, there is a progressive increase in degrees of as much as 25 degrees.
3. Operation
Not all scoliosis requires surgery. The indication for surgery for scoliosis is a progressive increase in the degree of curvature of 40-45 degrees in a growing child.
In addition, there are failures after the use of orthosis devices, and 50 degree bending in adults.
Prevention
Until now, most cases of scoliosis cannot be prevented. Most cases of scoliosis (about 80 percent) are idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause. For this reason, no preventive measures can be taken.
It’s the same with scoliosis that appears from birth and genetic disorders. It can’t be prevented either.
However, there is one type of scoliosis that can sometimes be prevented, namely adult scoliosis caused by osteoporosis.
This condition causes bones to become weak and brittle, which can lead to abnormal curvature of the spine.
The way to prevent scoliosis due to osteoporosis is with proper nutrition and regular exercise.
Consume foods and drinks that are rich in vitamin D and calcium, such as milk, fish, eggs and other dairy products.
Complications
Scoliosis can cause several complications, namely:
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Heart and lung problems
In severe cases of scoliosis or a curved spine of more than 70 degrees, the sufferer will have difficulty breathing.
In addition, the heart will also have difficulty pumping blood throughout the body due to pressure on the heart and lungs by the chest cavity.
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Back problems
Usually, long-term back pain and arthritis are often complained of by adults who suffered from scoliosis as a child.
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Appearance
As scoliosis gets worse, it can cause more noticeable changes in the sufferer’s appearance.
Abnormal posture will be seen, such as uneven hips and shoulders, protruding ribs, and a sideways shift of the waist.
When to See a Doctor?
Immediately see a doctor if you or your little one suffers from frequent back pain, uneven shoulders or hips, or other scoliosis symptoms mentioned above.