What are the symptoms of scoliosis?
Scoliosis manifests itself quite differently, depending on the age of the person affected, the progression of the disease and the degree of curvature.
Some symptoms are more of a cosmetic nature, while others only become apparent as a result of increasing wear and tear from middle age onwards. Scoliosis has more serious consequences if the curvature is severe, for example if the organs are impaired in their function by the shifted posture. Symptoms in infants, on the other hand, can usually be easily recognized during routine examinations and usually disappear quickly with appropriate therapy or spontaneously.
How can scoliosis be recognized?
Infants show typical symptoms that are usually noticed by the doctor during routine examinations (see “Symptoms in infants”).
Since in many cases children and adolescents do not (yet) have any noticeable symptoms of scoliosis, doctors often discover this growth disorder by chance during routine examinations in children and adolescents.
In adults, on the other hand, the late effects of scoliosis not recognized in adolescence often become apparent.
Further information on how scoliosis can be detected can be found in the Diagnosis and examinations section in the article Scoliosis.
Cosmetic symptoms
With pronounced scoliosis, the so-called rib hump is particularly noticeable. It can be seen on the back, on the side towards which the spine curves. The twisted vertebral bodies cause the ribs to pull backwards, causing the rib cage to bulge at the back. A rib hump mainly occurs from a Cobb angle of around 40 degrees and is best seen when patients bend over.
Muscle bulges also form in the lumbar region or on the neck, as the spinal muscles are pulled along by the scoliosis and are therefore more prominent on one side of the spine. A lumbar bulge becomes clearly visible above a Cobb angle of 60 degrees.
Cosmetic scoliosis symptoms often lead to psychosocial problems, especially in children and adolescents, for example when their peers bully them. As a result, they develop a diminished sense of self-worth and avoid unpleasant situations, for example in the changing room or swimming pool.
Symptoms in infants
However, infant scoliosis is often accompanied by other symptoms. Doctors summarize the possible overall picture under the seven syndrome:
- Scoliosis
- Lumbar hump (lumbodorsal kyphosis)
- Skull deformation/asymmetry (often uneven flattening of the back of the head = plagiocephaly)
- Tilted head posture (inclination, rotation)
- Mostly unilateral maldevelopment of a hip joint socket (hip dysplasia),
- Pelvic asymmetry
- Foot malpositions
What complaints occur with age?
Children usually have little or no symptoms of scoliosis. They very rarely complain of pain. However, if scoliosis persists for longer and its curvature increases, further scoliosis symptoms are possible or existing ones become more severe.
From the middle of the third decade of life, some patients suffer more from their scoliosis. Back pain then occurs more frequently. On the one hand, this is caused by increasing signs of wear and tear on the spine due to the permanent curvature (spondylosis deformans). On the other hand, the back muscles become tense. They are constantly trying to stabilize the unfavourable position of the spine.
Scoliosis pain is particularly typical of spinal curvatures in the lumbar region and thoracolumbar scoliosis (affecting the thoracic and lumbar spine). A hollow back (lumbar lordosis) usually exacerbates this.
Scoliosis pain often radiates to the sides and then frequently also affects the shoulders, neck and head. Furthermore, some patients feel restricted in their movements, especially if the joints stiffen due to spondylosis (growing bony edge spikes on the vertebrae). This can also cause the spine to crack in the case of scoliosis. In many cases, these scoliosis symptoms increase over time due to increasing wear and tear and overloading of the structures involved.
Symptoms of severe curvature
Pronounced curvatures and twists of the spine also deform the chest or abdominal cavity. In severe cases, scoliosis restricts the function of the heart, lungs and digestive organs. A lung function test can often measure impaired breathing at an early stage. Patients usually do not yet experience shortness of breath or other symptoms of scoliosis.
Experts have discovered that lung function is directly dependent on the degree of scoliosis: for every ten degrees of Cobb angle, the so-called vital capacity (lung volume between maximum inhalation and exhalation) is reduced by around ten percent. As a result, the cardiovascular system is usually only affected by a severe curvature (approximately over 90 degrees Cobb angle) or an increase in it later in the course of the disease.
In some cases, a symptom of severe curvature is also discomfort when swallowing.
More about scoliosis
You can find more information about scoliosis, its causes, diagnosis and treatment in our article Scoliosis.
Information on exercises that help with scoliosis can be found in our article Scoliosis exercises.
