How to recognize scoliosis in kids

Important to pay attention to the kids’ body, especially during the active growth.

In some countries there are annual school check - ups, where kids are assessed for the skeletal asymmetries, in some – not. Therefore, our role as parents also to keep an eye on the kids.

 First of all, you can notice body asymmetry. You can see:

-       Body tilt to one side

-       Elevation of shift of the shoulder to one side

-       Different level of the shoulder blades

-       Asymmetry in the chest area

-       Flattening of the upper back

For assessment better to start evaluation looking from the back, good to use a plumbline (or a piece of string with a metal heavy screw attached to it).

Place the arm with a plumbline on the level of seventh neck vertebra ( C&- normally the most protruding one).

Look – what it the position of the screw. If it is shifting away from the intergluteal fold to the right of left -t hat means that the balans of the body is changed and further investigation is needed.

Adams test

One of the most common first choice tests to detect scoliosis.

Ask a person to stand back to you, leg hips width distance apart, arm relaxed and palm together, and ask to bend slowly toward the floor with round back. Legs should be straight.

You will look from the back.

Adams test exposes the rotation of the spice (twisting around the vertical axes).

If rotation is present you will see the hump on the one side of the back. This hump is formed by the ribs, which has been rotated following the spine.

If the asymmetry is present -you will easily see it.

Note, that when person is bending forward, body should move strictly forward without a deviation to the side ( red flag for scoliosis).

Important facts:

·      Even if you see the rotation, final confirmation is x-ray examination.

There is something like hidden scoliosis – Adams test is positive, but spine is straight - these kids are considered to be under the risk.

·      During the puberty scoliosis may significantly progress.

·      Kids from the risk group must be reevaluated by specialist regularly

What if your kid has a scoliosis?

 IN Europe there are many organizations which are doing research on scoliosis, possibility of the correction and method application.

Leading ones:

SOSORT – based in France this organization unites the specialists who deal with non – surgical treatment of scoliosis, which also collect the data and create statistics for using of different correction techniques.

ISICO – studying and applying conservative treatment, based in Italy.

Based on research and statistics these organizations are distinguishing seven most effective schools for treatment of the scoliosis:

-       Method of Katarina Schroth (Germany) – one of the approach we use in Pilates House hanoi

-       SEAS (Italy)

-       BSPTS (Spain)

-       Lion school (France)

-       Dobomed approach (Poland)

-       Side shift method (England)

-       FITS (Poland)

Early beginning of corrective exercises along with wearing a brace ( if prescribed) gives excellent results.