What happens in the body?

The spine is made up of the spine and surrounding muscles. The spine in turn consists of 24 vertebrae. Between the vertebrae are discs, intervertebral discs. In order for the spine to hang together, but also be movable, there are joints between the vertebrae. The joints are held together by ligaments and short muscles. The core of the counter consists of a soft mass while the outer part is a firmer capsule. The discs are important for the mobility of the back and at the same time act as shock absorbers.

The upper part of the spine is called the neck spine. It is followed by the chest and further down the lumbar. The vertebrae of the pelvis form the sacrum and the tibia.

Scoliosis develops as the body grows

A scoliosis develops, that is, increases in degree, almost always in connection with periods of rapid growth, especially during puberty. For girls, scoliosis grows fastest during the years around the first period.

A smaller proportion of scoliosis that is already detected between the ages of three and ten can increase particularly rapidly. Which scoliosis will increase is difficult to predict. Therefore, it is important that young people with scoliosis are regularly checked by doctors.

The change of spine is continued until the vertebral column has stopped growing and sometimes another time after that. A scoliosis that is less than 35 degrees when the body has stopped growing is usually not worsened, and it usually does not cause any problems. If a larger bend occurs, above 45 degrees, it is common for scoliosis to continue to increase even after the body has stopped growing.

Adulthood in adulthood

In some cases, scoliosis can occur in adulthood, usually after the age of 40. This may be because a scoliosis that you have had since adolescence worsens and that you get pain from the lumbar spine below the scoliosis. You can also get scoliosis due to age and wear changes. At high age, it can then start to hurt the lumbar spine and also radiate down the legs.

The younger you are when you get a curvature of the spine and the greater the curvature then, the greater the risk that the spine becomes very crooked if it is not treated.

There is a risk that scoliosis will increase after the body has finished growing if you have a bend above 50 degrees. The strong bends mean that the load on the back increases, which causes the bends to get worse over time. If the curve increases a further ten degrees in the chest, the function of the lungs can be impaired. Similarly, the changes that occur due to wear in the lower back will increase if the bend becomes larger.

In a neuromuscular scoliosis, the chest is affected and the lungs function worse. Stomach space can decrease and gastrointestinal function deteriorates. The sloping back can cause the ribs to eventually push against the pelvis. There is then a risk of pressure ulcers and it can be difficult to manage the hygiene if the back collapses. This involves major problems in keeping the balance and preventing pressure ulcers while sitting.

Common with scoliosis

Almost every tenth person in the country has a scoliosis, even if the smallest bend is counted. A small scoliosis is as common in boys as in girls. Larger bends, on the other hand, are four times more common among girls than among boys.

Surveys have shown that of the children born in Sweden each year, about three in thousands later receive a scoliosis that requires treatment.

What does scoliosis depend on?

One reason for functional scoliosis may be that the legs are different in length, or that the pelvis is slightly oblique.

Serious causes of scoliosis are extremely rare. But sometimes it can be due to a congenital factor such as changes in the spinal column, growth disorder or disease of the muscular or nervous system.

The most common type of scoliosis, called idiopathic scoliosis, is the one that has no apparent cause. Scoliosis may also be due to various changes in the spine that affect the spine as you grow. It can be a fracture of a vertebra or a benign tumor, which causes the vertebrae to grow unevenly and make the vertebrae crooked.

There is a great risk of having scoliosis as a young child if you have neurological damage, such as cerebral palsy , CP. Spinal cord injuries and polio can also cause the risk of scoliosis. Anyone who is injured in the spinal cord before the age of ten has an increased risk of developing a scoliosis later in life.

Diseases of the muscles or nervous system can lead to a crooked back, which is usually called neuromuscular scoliosis.

The risk of getting scoliosis is greater if you have a close relative with scoliosis.

In otherwise healthy people, scoliosis is never due to being heavy or sleeping, standing or sitting with poor posture.

Influence and participate in your care

You can seek care at any health center or open specialist clinic you want throughout the country.

In order for you to be involved in your care and treatment, it is important that you understand the information you receive from the healthcare staff.