Your Scoliosis Evaluation
Your Scoliosis Evaluation
BIG: If a school screening or your health care provider finds signs of scoliosis, you’ll visit a special bone healthcare provider (orthopedist) for an evaluation. This visit helps determine what treatment may be best for you.
During your evaluation
Your bone health care provider may:
-
Ask you about your health history (for instance, if you’ve ever had surgery) and family history (if someone in your family has scoliosis)
-
Take X-rays of your back to get a closer look at your spine
-
Decide how much more you are likely to grow. (To help do this, the health care provider may ask girls if they’ve gotten their period yet.)
-
Examine your back while you’re standing up and bending over
-
Measure the size, location, and pattern of the spinal curve
-
Test how flexible your spine is, and how strong your back and neck muscles are
Why treat scoliosis?
A serious spinal curve that isn’t treated can get worse as you grow. Over time, it may cause problems. These can include:
-
Back pain
-
Arthritis in your back
-
Your body looking twisted
-
Clothes not fitting right
-
Heart and breathing problems (rare)
Updated:
January 20, 2020
Sources:
Clinical Features; Evaluation; and Diagnosis of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. UpToDate
Reviewed By:
Banerjee, Rahul, MD,Berry, Judith, PhD, APRN