It's more common in females than in males. The cause is unknown, but it's often genetic. If you notice any of the above signs in your child, your child's doctor should be consulted. The curve is often much greater than it appears to be, and early treatment is important. Screening for scoliosis is easy and should be done beginning at about age 10 and continue until the spine has fully matured.
Physical therapy can improve posture and tone up the spinal muscles.
A spinal brace, fitted by an orthopedic surgeon, that is worn for at least one year can help straighten the curvature as the spine grows and matures. Readjustment is done every three months. Once the spine has matured, the brace can be worn less often. Severe spinal curvature is corrected with surgery. This involves fusing the spine and inserting a rod to stabilize the spine.