Scoliosis

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• Scoliosis Overview
• Scoliosis Causes
• Scoliosis Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Scoliosis Treatment
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Support Groups and Counseling
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Related scoliosis articles:
  Scoliosis - on WebMD
  Scoliosis - on MedicineNet

Scoliosis Overview

Our spine is an engineering marvel that supports our weight and ties our body together. The spinal column consists of a stack of small bones that range in size from 2-3 inches to 5-6 inches in diameter. When viewed from the front, the spine appears to be straight, but when looked at from the side, the normal spine has two gentle S-curves.

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. In scoliosis, the spine curves to the side when viewed from the front, and each vertebra also twists on the next one in a corkscrew fashion.

Scoliosis affects girls twice as often as it affects boys. About three to five of 1,000 people are affected. Scoliosis usually occurs in those older than 10 years, but the condition can be seen in infants.