Scoliosis

Symptoms:

• Shoulder Blades are different heights.
• Appearence of hips, one may be more prominent than the other.
• Rib cage may stick out or become noticably un-even.
• Leaning on one side of the whole body.
• Back pain and/or difficulty breathing

Body systems affected:
Skeletal

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. Usually it does not cause pain and at worst scoliosis can interfere with the function of organs. From the side it takes the form of an elongated S, the upper back bowing outward and lower back curving slightly inward. Viewed from behind, the spine should appear as a straight line from the base of the neck to the tailbone. If you have Scoliosis the view from behind may show one or more curves. Most cases of Scoliosis dont get worse and periodic check ups may be all that is needed. Children with a more severe case of Scoliosis willl show at these check ups that the curve in the spine increases along with the childs growth. Some cases are left as they are and monitered where as some children requite a brace or at worst surgery. Scoliosis is usually genetic, but doctors dont know the cause.

Fun Facts:
• Girls more often than boys are reported to have scoliosis.
• Out of every 1,000 children, 3 to 5 develop scoliosis severe enough to need treatment.
• I have scoliosis :)


Sources:
http://www.iscoliosis.com/
www.medicinenet.com/scoliosis/article.htm