Rehabilitologist explained what scoliosis is and why it is important to monitor posture from childhood

Scoliosis is not just a curvature of the spine, but a complex deformity that affects several planes. According to statistics, in the school environment, signs of posture disorders occur in about 30% of children. About what are the types of scoliosis, how it is formed and whether it is transmitted by inheritance, on the air of the talk show "PRO HEALTH" on the YouTube channel "SEE AND LIVE" told the doctor-rehabilitologist, deputy chief doctor for medical examination and rehabilitation of the UZ "16th city children's clinic" Irina Yakushik. It's from sb.by.

What is scoliosis

Scoliosis is a complex deformity of the spine, which has in the structure both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra around its vertical axis. That is, the back becomes a curve, bends in one direction or the other in several planes, explained Irina Yakushik.

Scoliosis species

- First of all, depending on the direction of the deformation arc, scoliosis is right-sided and left-sided. Also divide the upper thoracic, thoracic, lumbar, cervical - depending on localization. As progression, S-shaped forms and Z-scoliosis are more common - complex deformities in different parts of the spine, the doctor said.

How often is it

- Quite often. According to various sources, from 1 to 6 percent, but in the school environment — about 30 percent, probably today, — said the rehabilitator.

Causes of scoliosis

- Most often, the underlying cause is not established. Such species are called idiopathic because we do not know the true causes. About 80 percent of scoliosis we can not explain. But there are a number of problems that actually lead to scoliosis. For example, congenital deformity of the vertebra. The point is that you need to start with understanding what posture is. Posture is a relaxed, habitual posture of a person in household activity. The newborn does not have this habitual activity, it lies down, so the word “ossaka” is relatively applicable to it. Posture is actively formed for school and continues to form the entire period of growth, explained Irina Yakushik.

When the spine completes growth

- The spine ceases to grow by 18-20 years, all nuclei of ossification close. Then another process, age-related degeneration, comes on, and we have a slightly different problem, different causes for deformation. A fairly well-known expression is a senile hump, the doctor added.

Could it be the cause of birth trauma

- Such studies are conducted, and there are descriptions of such cases. During childbirth, the fetus twists several times, passing through the birth canal. For example, rapid birth can contribute to overstretching or compression of some parts of the spine. And then in the future we can see problems that will lead to scoliosis, explained Irina Yakushik.

Who is sick more often - boys or girls

- Statistically, there are differences. Infant scoliosis, which is more common before the age of three, there are more boys. It is quite prosperous, it is allowed well, heavy forms do not come out. If we take the juvenile age from 3 to 10 years, girls are in the lead here. This scoliosis can behave aggressively and progress rapidly. Adolescent scoliosis, when hormonal changes, is also more common in girls. Adolescence is very difficult: the body is actively growing, changing, adding questions of psychological perception of themselves. And it is very difficult to negotiate with teenagers, said the doctor.

Is scoliosis inherited

The issue is difficult because it is being actively studied. If we take large samples, then indeed in a family where there are people with scoliosis, it appears about 30% more often. There's a kind of recurrence. Now genetics is actively developing, there is a search for genes responsible for the development of scoliosis. Both local genes and the entire genome are studied. For example, look for a gene responsible for the development of bone tissue. On private samples it turns out that there is a dependence, but reliably on large numbers of people this has not yet been confirmed, research is ongoing. The difficulty is that we don't have an organism in nature that will also walk upright on two legs. Animal models are hard to find. But in twins, scoliosis is more common, said Irina Yakushik.

Should I check my brothers and sisters

- If there are three children in the family and one has scoliosis, the likelihood of others is not necessary, but taking into account the active progression and the importance of the pathology, everyone should be observed and examined, the doctor stressed.

Watch the project “PRO HEALTH” on the YouTube channel “Watch and Live” every Sunday at 12:00. Specialists in various fields will answer popular questions of concern to everyone in simple language and with humor.