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What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a
three-dimensional curvature of the spine. A normal spine is
straight when viewed from the front or the back. Normally, when
viewed from the side the spine curves backwards in the chest
area (kyphosis) and forward in the waist area (lordosis). When
viewed from the top down, all of the vertebrae should be facing
forward. However, with scoliosis the spine curves to one side or
the other in the thoracic and/or lumbar areas. From the top
looking down through the center of the spine, some of the
vertebrae are twisted which causes the ribs attached to the
vertebrae to protrude, usually on the right side.
Scoliosis is a condition
that may appear in more than one member of a family in the same
or different generations. It does not develop as a result of
anything that a child or her parents did or failed to do. Poor
posture or carrying a heavy book bag does not case scoliosis.
Scoliosis is a spinal deformity that usually appears during
adolescence, although it may appear in younger children as well.
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