Symptoms of Scoliosis

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Main Page

Risk Factors

Symptoms

Talking to Your Doctor

Living With Scoliosis

Resource Guide

Scoliosis is often found during a well-child checkup or school screening. A child with scoliosis may not have any symptoms yet. More severe curves may cause symptoms, such as:

Uneven shoulder blades
Uneven hip bones
Large shoulder blades or ribs on 1 side
Uneven waist
Appearance of leaning to 1 side
Tired muscles after sitting for a long time
Back pain

A Woman With Scoliosis

REFERENCES:

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/adolescent-idiopathic-scoliosis. Updated June 1, 2019. Accessed July 24, 2019.

Congenital scoliosis and kyphosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/congenital-scoliosis-and-kyphosis. Updated January 19, 2016. Accessed July 24, 2019.

Idiopathic scoliosis in children and adolescents. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons website. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/idiopathic-scoliosis-in-children-and-adolescents. Updated March 2015. Accessed July 24, 2019.

Infantile and juvenile idiopathic scoliosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/infantile-and-juvenile-idiopathic-scoliosis. Updated March 5, 2018. Accessed July 24, 2019.

Scoliosis in children and adolescents. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/scoliosis. Updated December 30, 2015. Accessed July 24, 2019.

Last reviewed June 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD Last Updated: 10/18/2019

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