What is scoliosis?

When a normal spine is viewed from behind, the shape of the back is straight and the trunk is bilaterally symmetrical. When viewing a normal spine from the side, curvatures can be observed in the neck, upper torso, and lower torso. There is a slight curvature in the upper part of the torso called kyphosis. The lower part of the torso has an opposite arc called lordosis. Under normal circumstances, there is a certain degree of cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, and lumbar lordosis, which are very necessary to maintain the balance of the trunk above the pelvis (see Figure 1). Deviations from this normal alignment may manifest as kyphosis or lordosis or, more commonly, scoliosis. Figure 1 Scoliosis means that some segments of the spine deviate from the normal front axis of the body, which is called scoliosis. The medical definition is: using the Cobb method to measure the spinal curvature in the standing X-ray of the spine. An angle greater than 10° is called scoliosis. (See Figure 2). Figure 2: Definition of scoliosis Figure 3 Scoliosis X-ray, B has been surgically corrected. Although this is a traditional definition, it has certain limitations because deformity at different angles occurs in three planes: coronal plane, Sagittal and horizontal planes. Scoliosis is a descriptive definition, not a diagnosis. Because of this, there is research to find the cause of scoliosis. In more than 80% of cases, no specific cause is found, so this type of scoliosis is defined as idiopathic scoliosis. This type of scoliosis is more common among adolescent girls. Congenital conus deformity of the spine, neurogenic diseases, genetic factors, and many other causes can cause spinal deformities. Carrying heavy objects, playing sports, sleeping and standing postures, or slight differences in the lengths of the lower limbs do not cause scoliosis.