Sometimes, the spine appears to be curved because of a difference in leg length. And rarely, some babies are born with spinal defects that cause the spine to grow unevenly. This last type of scoliosis is called congenital scoliosis. Anyone can get scoliosis. But the most common type of scoliosis, idiopathic scoliosis , usually occurs after age 10.
Girls are more likely to develop idiopathic scoliosis then boys are.
It is especially important to be checked regularly if you have a parent, sister, or brother with scoliosis, since scoliosis can run in families. An examination to check for scoliosis usually includes a physical examination, and sometimes may include an X-ray evaluation and curve measurement. Your health care provider will look at your back, chest, hips, legs, feet, and skin. He or she will check to see if your shoulders are even, whether your head is centered over your shoulders, and whether opposite sides of your body look even. He or she will also examine your back muscles, while you are bending forward, to see if one side of your Collections rib cage is higher than the other.