When viewed from the front or back, the spine should remain straight. Scoliosis, however, means that the spine has developed an "S" - shaped curve from side to side. Most people with scoliosis live no differently than anyone else--they can play sports and be physically active. If, however, a curve becomes worse over time, your doctor may decide to treat it.

Symptoms

If you have scoliosis, you might not even notice anything wrong with your back. Most kids who have scoliosis never feel any pain, for example. In addition, the curves in a scoliotic spine often go unnoticed by the patient or other family members. This is why a nurse or gym teacher often screens kids at school by asking them to do the "Adam's Forward Bend Test."

When a person bends over, any curvature in the spine becomes more visible. Other signs of scoliosis include one shoulder that appears higher than the other or an unevenness in the hips. A "rib hump," a hump on the back that sticks up when the spine is bent forward, may also indicate the presence of scoliosis.

How your doctor decides to treat your scoliosis will depend on your age, how mature your skeletal system is, and how large the curvature is.