5 Common Symptoms of Scoliosis to Look out For

Scoliosis affects around two to three percent of the population. In the US, that means anywhere from 6 million to 10 million people are living with scoliosis.

Often associated with adolescence, scoliosis can affect anyone. The condition only causes major complications when it's severe. You may wonder if you’ve developed a mild case without knowing.

In this guide, we’ll go over five of the most common symptoms of scoliosis. If you have all or some of them, it may be time to seek treatment.

1. Back Pain and Symptoms of Scoliosis

In most cases, scoliosis doesn’t cause back pain until the curve is severe. It may be one of the reasons scoliosis often goes undetected.

Nonetheless, if you experience frequent backaches and pains, it could be mild scoliosis. If you’ve been treating back pain without much success, it could be time to ask about this condition.

2. Signs of Scoliosis Include Abnormal Posture

Since this condition involves abnormal curvature of the spine, it often affects posture. In mild scoliosis cases, posture may not be noticeably affected.

If you suspect you may have scoliosis, you should watch out for the following signs:

• Uneven shoulders

• One shoulder jutting out

• One hip resting higher than the other

Curvature of the spine itself may be noticeable only once the condition is advanced.

3. Ill-Fitting Clothes Point to Scoliosis

One of the surprising signs of scoliosis is how your clothes fit. If you notice one pant leg or sleeve hanging lower than the other, curvature of the spine may be at play.

Keep an eye on necklines and hemlines alike. If things aren’t lining up, you may want to consult with someone about scoliosis.

4. Trouble Breathing May be an Indicator

One of the symptoms of scoliosis may be trouble breathing. Since the condition curves the spine, it also affects the rib cage. This twisting effect leaves your lungs with less space to expand.

If you find yourself short of breath where you weren’t before, it could be time to seek help.

5. Fatigue Can be a Symptom of Scoliosis

If you asked, “What are the symptoms of scoliosis,” you might be surprised to hear fatigue listed as one. Fatigue can set in if you sit or stand for a long period of time. The worse the curvature is, the harder your muscles have to work to keep you aligned.

Breathing issues can also cause chronic fatigue in cases of scoliosis. If you’re tired without cause and have some of the other symptoms on this list, it's time to ask your doctor.

Treatment is Possible

If you have all or some of these symptoms of scoliosis, there’s good news. Scoliosis is often treatable, and in many cases, surgery isn’t needed.

If you have mild scoliosis and back pain, you may want to consider yoga in Lakeway and other supportive treatments to relieve pain.

If you’re looking for more information about treating pain and living your best life, take a look at our blog. We have the advice to help you stay fit and pain-free.

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