Scoliosis Research Paper

Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. While people without the condition have normal curves in their back, it should appear straight when looking from the front. However, people with the condition develop additional curves to either side of the body, and the bones of the spine twist on each other, forming a “C” or an “S” shape in the spine. The larger the curve is generally increases the risk for it to worsen overtime. S-shaped curves commonly tend to get worse overtime then C-shaped curves. “Scoliosis is not a disease, but rather it is a term used to describe any abnormal, sideways curvature of the spine.” There is no cure for Scoliosis, but the symptoms can be reduced. However, once scoliosis is detected it should be …show more content…
A test utilized to determine whether one has the condition is called the Adam’s Forward Bend Test. The patient must bend down and touch their toes, where the doctor will observe to see if they notice any of the signs of the condition. These include uneven shoulders, one shoulder blade that appears more noticeable than the other, an uneven waist, one side of the rib cage appears higher than the other, the body tilts to one side, one leg may be short than the other, and or one hip may appear higher than the other. The curvature of the spine does not cause any pain, however if it does cause mild pain it can go unobserved. Many assume that any sort of back pain is usually considered a symptom of the condition, however, it is not. Back pain may indicate another problem, therefore if an individual has back pain and scoliosis they must go see a doctor to find out the cause of the pain because it may require additional treatment. Moreover, the doctor may run a neurological test to analyze the condition, where they would check for muscle weakness, numbness, or abnormal reflexes. To determine the exact cause of the condition, such as a tumor or infection, the doctor will recommend further imaging tests, such as an MRI, a CT, or a bone