Health and emotional wellness are all goals you will want for your child as a parent. Unfortunately, certain issues arise or develop at birth, affecting both your child's physical and emotional health. Characterized by an actual deformity of the spine, scoliosis is a common condition that affects over 4 million people in the United States. Even though so many people have this disorder, scoliosis is not understood well by most people. This guide will help you learn the signs and treatment options so you can diagnosis scoliosis and help your child have a healthier lifestyle.

Signs

Some disorders do not show any physical signs, but you will notice physical signs if your child has scoliosis. Abnormal, uneven posture is one of the most common signs of the disorder. Different parts of your child's body may also protrude awkwardly. For example, one of your child's hip bones may protrude out, or one of their shoulder blades may stick out further than the other.

The issues affecting your child's posture and the way their body has developed affects them physically, but it can also affect their ability to wear clothes properly. Tops may hang off your child, the necklines of shirts may appear off-center, and you may struggle to find pants that sit on their waist/hips evenly.

Pain is also a common problem that many children with scoliosis face. This pain stems from the spine's abnormal alignment.

In addition to back pain, your child may experience severe fatigue. This feeling of being constantly tired is due to the stress on their spine, which eventually weakens the muscles and ligaments.

Treatment

The type of treatment will depend on the severity of your child's condition and their age. In most cases, doctors will recommend observing your child over a period of time to see if the spine's curvature aligns itself naturally as they age and develop.

Bracing is another common form of treatment for children with scoliosis. Braces can be worn under or over your child's clothing, so they do not interfere with their normal daily activities. The braces are designed to apply pressure to different parts of the spine, helping straighten and realign their posture over a period of time.

If your child has a more severe case of scoliosis that has caused their spine to curve excessively and bracing is not effective, surgery may be an option to consider.

Scoliosis is not a disorder that will threaten your child's life, but it can affect their physical and emotional well-being. This guide and a doctor's assistance, such as from C D Denison, will help you understand and treat scoliosis.