When viewed from the rear, the spine usually appears perfectly straight. Scoliosis is a lateral (side-to-side) curve in the spine, usually combined with a rotation of the vertebrae. While a small degree of lateral curvature does not cause any medical problems, larger curves can cause postural imbalance and lead to muscle fatigue and pain. More severe scoliosis can interfere with breathing and lead to arthritis of the spine (spondylosis).
There are many types and causes of scoliosis, including:
- Congenital scoliosis (caused by a bone abnormality present at birth)
- Neuromuscular scoliosis (a result of abnormal muscles or nerves; frequently seen in people with spina bifida or cerebral palsy or those with various conditions that are accompanied by, or result in, paralysis.
- Degenerative scoliosis (may result from traumatic bone collapse (from an injury or illness), previous back surgery, osteoporosis (thinning of the bones)
- Idiopathic scoliosis (The most common type of scoliosis, idiopathic scoliosis, has no specific identifiable cause.)