Scoliosis used to be not much understood, but with the incidence and social attention to the health of adolescent students, scoliosis screening has been included in the physical examination of primary and secondary school students, and recently a school in Zhejiang found 76 cases of students with lateral spondylosis in the screening, which quickly appeared on the hot search. What is Scoliosis? How to self-test and prevent? In this episode, we will talk about this topic.
Online big doctor: Liu Boling
Director of the First Department of Spine of Fuzhou Second General Hospital
Doctor of Medicine, Chief Physician, Master Supervisor
Topic: "Scoliosis" on the hot search, how to self-test and prevent
Scoliosis
Scoliosis, also known as scoliosis, is a three-dimensional structural abnormality of the spine that deviates from the axis of the body in the coronal, sagittal and axial positions. A normal person's spine should be straight from the back and the torso should be symmetrical on both sides. When scoliosis occurs, the spine curves sideways, creating a curved deformity that may be accompanied by unequal rib height, pelvic deformity, and abnormalities of the paravertebral ligaments and muscles.
Scoliosis is classified according to its cause
Congenital scoliosis: due to poor skeletal development during the fetal period.
Idiopathic scoliosis: the most common type of scoliosis with an unknown cause, which tends to occur during adolescence.
Acquired scoliosis: usually caused by long-term improper posture or spinal injury, etc.
Postural scoliosis: Mainly caused by poor posture and is more common in children.
How to spot scoliosis
Observe the standing position: see if the shoulders are the same height and if the spine is straight when the child stands upright. If your shoulders aren't as tall as you are, or if your spine looks a little crooked, you might want to pay attention.
Check the skin on the back: Gently touch your child's back, especially the spine. If you notice that the skin lines look like two lines that are not parallel, there may be something wrong with the spine.
Shoulders and shoulder blades: Look at your child's shoulders and if one side is taller than the other, it could be a problem with the spine. Also, be wary if one side of the shoulder blade is more prominent.
Waist and hips: See if your child's waist is symmetrical and the hips are balanced. If the waist or hips look asymmetrical, such as a more pronounced line on one side or a little tilted hips, it could be a sign of a spinal problem.
You can also ask the children to bend forward, that is, put their feet together, shoulder width apart, fingers on their toes, and bend over 90 degrees to see if the height of both sides of the back is the same height.
Legs and feet: Check that your child's legs are the same length and that their feet are aligned. If the legs are not the same length, or if the feet are not properly aligned (such as a little inward), it may be caused by a spinal problem.
Hands and arms: Also pay attention to your child's hands and arms. If the hands and arms don't look the same height, or if the sides of the chest are not symmetrical, it may be a sign of a spinal problem.
Discover how scoliosis is handled
After the diagnosis is confirmed by a thorough examination with a routine physical examination and x-rays, scoliosis treatment usually has three options: observation and follow-up, wearing a brace, or surgery.
Mild scoliosis usually refers to bending at an angle of less than 25 degrees. For these initial symptoms, parents should monitor them regularly and closely observe changes in the degree of curvature.
Moderate scoliosis is a curvature between 25 and 45 degrees that is usually treated with a brace and has the potential to slow the progression of scoliosis and delay or avoid surgery. If the curvature is worse, your child may need surgery.
Severe scoliosis is a curve greater than 45 degrees that usually requires surgery. The most common surgery is spinal fusion. Doctors use metal rods, screws, etc., to correct the curvature of the spine.
Do this to protect your child's spine
So far, the cause of scoliosis is not clear, and it is not only due to incorrect standing posture or problem with the way of carrying a school bag, but is mainly related to human genes, developmental abnormalities, neuromuscular imbalances, endocrine disorders or impaired balance regulation.
However, if a child with scoliosis continues to adopt poor posture, it may worsen the condition. Therefore, parents must remind their children to correct their posture and exercise appropriately to protect their health.
Disclaimer
This article aims to popularize health science, to help you understand diseases and medications, the content of popular science can not replace the doctor's diagnosis and treatment opinions, for reference only, if you have related health problems, please consult a doctor in time.
Introduced by the doctor
Liu Boling
Director of the First Department of Spine of Fuzhou Second General Hospital, Doctor of Medicine, Chief Physician, Master's Supervisor, Youth Member of Minimally Invasive Surgery Group of Orthopaedic Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Member of Minimally Invasive Spine Group of Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Member of Low Back Pain Group of Chinese Medical Association Pain Branch, Member of Osteoporosis Prevention and Rehabilitation Special Committee of Chinese Rehabilitation Medical Association, Member of Fujian Pain Society, Vice President of Fuzhou Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He is good at minimally invasive spine, and has undertaken a total of 8 projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Provincial Natural Science Foundation, and the Provincial Youth Talent Fund.