For many, scoliosis is a minor disruption to their day. They may notice a
slight curve in their back or their shirt may not fit right. But for others,
scoliosis symptoms may get in the way of the life they want to live.
Learn about the condition, its causes, and how to find relief.
Your spine is like a road, running down from the back of your head to your tailbone. That road is supposed to run straight, but when you have scoliosis, it curves into the shape of a “C” or an “S,” putting strain on your muscles, disks, and joints. You may be born with it or develop it during childhood or later adulthood.
Many people with a mild curve don't feel any pain or discomfort. They may not even realize they have scoliosis until a doctor or a school screening points it out. But for those with more significant curves, scoliosis may lead to back pain, muscle aches, or a feeling of stiffness.
Still, there’s good news. The truth about scoliosis is it’s very treatable, and for most people, it doesn't stop them from living a full, active life. While some may have to be a little more careful with physical activity, many are able to do everything from sports to dancing to hiking without any issues.
A 10-24 degree curve means you have mild scoliosis. You probably won’t have many symptoms, and doctors usually focus on waiting and watching to see how the condition develops.
If your spine has a 25-39 degree curve, it’s considered moderate. You may have a few symptoms like back pain or a visible curve. Your doctor will likely focus on correcting or slowing the progress of your scoliosis with exercises or a back brace.
Severe cases of scoliosis have a curve that’s 40 degrees or more. You probably have back pain and trouble with twisting and bending. Doctors will still frequently recommend exercises and braces, but surgery is also on the table.
Although doctors suspect genetics play a role, most cases of scoliosis don’t have a clear cause. This type of scoliosis is called “idiopathic,” which literally means the cause is unknown. It’s most often diagnosed during childhood, when growth spurts cause the condition to rapidly progress.
Neuromuscular conditions like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and spinal cord injuries may cause scoliosis. They weaken the muscles around the spine, making it possible for a curve to form. The curve often gets worse over time, especially for children who aren’t done growing.
Over the years, your spine’s disks and joints may wear down and lose their ability to stay aligned. This is called degenerative or adult scoliosis, and it typically happens after the age of 40. Where other types of scoliosis are driven by growth spurts or underlying conditions, degenerative scoliosis is just a natural result of you living your life.
Scoliosis is a common symptom for many genetic conditions and syndromes that affect your muscles, bones, and tendons. Conditions like Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, for example, may weaken the connective tissues that support your spine, leading to a curve. In these cases, scoliosis isn’t the main condition, but one of the many symptoms in a broader diagnosis.
When you’re born with scoliosis, it’s called congenital. It’s rare, but happens when the individual bones in your spine don't develop correctly. The issue may be a “formation failure,” where one or more vertebrae don’t fully form, or a “segmentation failure,” where some of the vertebrae fail to separate. This is usually diagnosed in the infant or toddler years.
2-3% of the general population has scoliosis1
203M people are diagnosed with new cases every year2
80% of scoliosis is idiopathic, meaning the cause is unknown3
10X more likely for a woman’s spine to progress past 30 degrees than a man’s4
Children between the ages of ten and 16 do a lot of growing. Those growth spurts tend to make scoliosis progress enough to be noticed, which is why more diagnoses happen in this age group than any other. Early diagnosis is good, as it gives doctors more time to monitor the progression of the curve and provide treatment. That said, a child’s risk is directly tied to how much growth they have left. If a curve already needs treatment partway into puberty, there’s a clear risk of it worsening as they continue to grow.
While many children with scoliosis develop a small curve, girls are much more likely to develop a curve large enough to require treatment than boys. Later in life, women are also at a higher risk for degenerative scoliosis, which develops as the spine ages. This is especially true after menopause, when your body produces less estrogen, potentially leading to lower bone density and osteoporosis.
It’s not a guarantee, but if one of your close family members has scoliosis, you’re at a higher risk of developing a curve. That leads doctors to believe genetics likely play an important role in causing idiopathic scoliosis, but the exact cause is still unknown. Be sure to tell your doctor if your family has a history of the condition so they can watch for any symptoms or signs of progression.
If you have a health issue that affects your nerves and muscles like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or spina bifida, it may weaken the muscles around the spine to the point where they can’t keep your spine straight. Scoliosis is also a common symptom in genetic and syndromic conditions like Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which weaken the connective tissues that support your spine.
As you get older, you’re more likely to develop degenerative scoliosis because of the natural wear and tear on your spine. The disks that cushion each vertebrae and the joints that guide your movement wear down, sometimes unevenly. That may cause your spine to curve. As you age, your bone density also goes down (especially if you’re a woman who’s gone through menopause), which raises your risk.
Most people with scoliosis only have a mild curve, so they don’t have many symptoms. But if your curve progresses, symptoms may start up or worsen, holding you back from the life you want to live.
If you or your child are showing signs of scoliosis, it’s important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. The earlier you catch it, the sooner your doctor may begin monitoring the progression and recommend a treatment plan, which may include a back brace, exercises, or other therapies like chiropractic care.
Chiropractors like ours deliver a gentle, non-invasive therapy known as adjustments to help relieve pain caused by scoliosis. These adjustments may help reduce the restriction of joints, improve the vertical alignment of your spine, and reduce inflammation, giving you the chance to feel and live better in your everyday life.
That said, chiropractic care can't structurally “straighten” or permanently correct a C- or S-shaped curve. Scoliosis is a complex spinal deformity often tied to bone structure, genetics, or growth patterns, and adjustments alone can’t reverse those. To see if you should be treated by a chiropractor for scoliosis, visit us at the Joint Chiropractic, where we can perform a consultation and examination. If necessary, we may refer you out for an x-ray or MRI. Based on the findings, we may suggest co-treating your scoliosis with your doctor and other health professionals, including massage therapists and physical therapists.
Moderate to severe curves may cause you pain for a variety of reasons:
Chiropractors use various techniques to help you manage the pain caused by scoliosis:
While chiropractic care is not a cure for scoliosis, many patients find it offers great benefits, including:
Walk in for quality, affordable care that fits your schedule. Enjoy hassle-free visits and same-day relief.
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
There are ways to correct, or at least improve, the curve in your spine. Surgery is the most direct way, though that’s usually reserved for severe cases. Non-surgical treatments, like braces and therapeutic exercises, may help correct a curve subtly, but their purpose is to more often reduce pain and halt the progression of scoliosis. That said, with the right treatment plan, many people see meaningful improvements in how they feel and move, even if their curve remains.
For children, their scoliosis is most likely to worsen because of a growth spurt. Rapid growth propels scoliosis forward, leading to more dramatic curves. That’s why early diagnosis can be so impactful. The sooner it’s identified, the sooner a doctor may monitor and recommend treatments like braces to halt or slow down the progression of the condition. As for adults, the most likely reason for scoliosis to appear or worsen is simply getting older. The natural breakdown of spinal disks and joints over time may increase the curve, especially in women who’ve gone through menopause or people with osteoporosis.
Absolutely. Most people with scoliosis live full, active lives, and many hardly notice their curves at all. Generally speaking, only moderate or severe curves are likely to disrupt your day. Even when scoliosis does need treatment, it usually doesn’t stop people from working, exercising, or enjoying everyday life. With proper care and management, your scoliosis doesn’t have to define you.
For small curves, doctors often just keep an eye on things with regular checkups. Braces may be used to help stop curves from getting worse, especially in kids who are still growing. Physical therapy and scoliosis-specific exercises may help improve strength and posture. In serious cases, surgeries like spinal fusion may also be recommended to stabilize your spine.
You should see a doctor if you notice you have uneven shoulders, uneven hips, or a visible curve in your spine. Back pain, breathing problems, or a lean in your posture are also signs to get yourself checked out. Kids and teens especially benefit from early evaluation since their curves may change quickly while they’re growing. If a close relative has scoliosis, definitely tell your family’s doctors so they may keep an eye on any signs of it appearing or worsening.
The different types of scoliosis are based around your age and the cause of your scoliosis. For example, idiopathic scoliosis is when the exact cause is unknown, and it can be broken down further by age group into infantile scoliosis, juvenile scoliosis, and adolescent scoliosis. Congenital scoliosis is when you’re born with the condition. Degenerative scoliosis is when you develop a curve due to the natural wear and tear of your spine, usually when you’re over 40. There’s also neuromuscular scoliosis, which is when it’s caused by a neuromuscular condition, and syndromic scoliosis, which is when it’s caused by a syndromic disease.
Scoliosis does seem to have a genetic component at times, but it's not as simple as a single scoliosis gene. Researchers believe idiopathic scoliosis may be influenced by multiple genes, and if you have a close family member with the condition, your risk definitely goes up. But the exact role your genes play isn’t fully understood. They also don’t seem to play a role at all in some types of scoliosis, such as degenerative scoliosis, which is caused by natural wear and tear on your spine.
Scoliosis doesn’t have a cure, per say. But treatments like braces, therapeutic exercises, and surgery may help halt the progression of the condition, improve your curve, and ease pain. Chiropractic care is also a helpful option for anyone looking to better manage pain caused by their scoliosis. Regardless, even if your curve isn’t fully corrected, most people with scoliosis still live a full, active life.
Scoliosis is more common than most people realize, affecting about two to three percent of people in the U.S.1 The most common type is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, which usually shows up between the ages of 10 and 18, though scoliosis may be diagnosed at any age. The good news is most cases of scoliosis are mild, with little to no symptoms disrupting your daily life.
Scoliosis may cause pain, but not always. Most cases of scoliosis are mild enough to be painless. That said, if you have a moderate or severe curve, you’re more likely to experience pain or discomfort. Adults with degenerative scoliosis specifically are also more likely to deal with pain since it’s caused by natural wear and tear on the spine.
Yes, scoliosis may develop later in life. Even though kids and teens are the most likely group to be diagnosed, adults may develop it as their spine starts to wear down, usually after the age of 40. It’s called degenerative scoliosis, or sometimes adult scoliosis.
Scoliosis may get worse as you age. Your spine may experience natural wear and tear, your bone density may go down, and your muscles may weaken. All that may cause your scoliosis to progress. That said, if you have degenerative scoliosis, it usually progresses more gradually and predictably than scoliosis in a child who still has growth spurts ahead of them.
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Lauren keeps busy. She’s a marketer, business owner, and keyboarder in a rock band. But when back pain derailed her life, she wanted to find a holistic approach to relief. That’s when her acupuncturist gave her a coupon to try The Joint. The care she received changed everything. Her body finally started to feel “right” again, so she could get back to the work and music she loves.
1 Negrini, S., Donzelli, S., Aulisa, A. G., Czaprowski, D., Schreiber, S., de Mauroy, J. C., Diers, H., Grivas, T. B., Knott, P., Kotwicki, T., Lebel, A., Marti, C., Maruyama, T., O’Brien, J., Price, N., Parent, E., Rigo, M., Romano, M., Stikeleather, L., Wynne, J., Zaina, F. (2018). 2016 SOSORT guidelines: Orthopaedic and rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth. Scoliosis and Spinal Disorders, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13013-017-0145-8
2 Petrosyan, E., Fares, J., Ahuja, C. S., Lesniak, M. S., Koski, T. R., Dahdaleh, N. S., & El Tecle, N. E. (2024). Genetics and pathogenesis of scoliosis. North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ), 20, 100556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xnsj.2024.100556
3 Dunn, J., Henrikson, N. B., Morrison, C. C., Blasi, P. R., Nguyen, M., & Lin, J. S. (2018). Introduction to Screening for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Evidence Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493369/
4 UTHealth Houston Neurosciences. (2024). Scoliosis. https://med.uth.edu/neurosciences/conditions-and-treatments/spine-disorders-and-back-pain/scoliosis
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