How Is Scoliosis Diagnosed?
Sometimes scoliosis will be easily noticeable. A curved spine can cause someone’s body to tilt to the left or right. Many teens with scoliosis have one shoulder blade that’s higher than the other or an uneven waist with a tendency to lean to one side. If a curve gets really severe, it can even affect a person’s breathing and heart function and can lead to damage in the joints of the spine and pain in adulthood. Because scoliosis can develop very gradually, in most cases it isn’t diagnosed until a person is between the ages of 10 and 14. Doctors routinely check teens for scoliosis during regular physical exams. Some schools in the United States also test for scoliosis, but the most accurate way to diagnose it is to see a doctor.
