The back-to-school season is here, and your teen is not ready to start carrying all their books on their back. As a parent, you should worry about what all the weight of those textbooks is doing to your still developing teenager. If you are worried it could result in early signs of scoliosis, we have some of the symptoms to look for in your child’s posture so you can take steps to reduce the possibility of them developing this spinal issue.
Your teen will thank you for staying alert on their spine and scoliosis to have them avoid wearing the large scoliosis brace during their high school years.
3 Early Signs of Scoliosis to Look for in Your Teen
Adolescent scoliosis is the spinal issue happening to individuals between the ages of 10 and 18. A curvature of the spine occurs similar to scoliosis symptoms and can cause pain for your teen’s development in their adolescence. What are some early signs of scoliosis that stand out?
One shoulder is higher than the other
When the curvature begins in the spine, it also affects other areas of the body to bring other early signs of scoliosis. The curving of the spinal bone will lift one of your teen’s shoulder to look elevated over the other. Look at their shoulders or have them stand up to notice which shoulder is not looking level from the other.
Difficulty standing straight
Teens are never standing predominantly straight, as it might not be the “cool” thing to do. But if your child is having trouble standing up straight even when they are doing it ironically, it can be a troubling early symptom of the spinal issue. The curvature pushes the spine and causes pain when stretched out straight. If your teen can’t handle standing straight because of the spinal problem, it is an excellent time to address a possibility of scoliosis.
Abnormal walking pattern
A teen’s walk might be already hard to read, but if they have a different stride when they are walking normal, the curvature of scoliosis might have affected their legs. One higher leg or hip is another portions of the body scoliosis changes when the curving of the spine begins. When these body parts are visible affecting your teen’s walk, it is crucial to verify it is not the spinal condition.
What to do If Your Child has Signs of Scoliosis
Most schools perform scoliosis screenings to see if there are visible early signs of the issue. If you see visible signs of this spinal issue, you can take your child to their doctor to have them examine their back and measure any curvatures. Also, get them a well-supported backpack, so their spine is more supported when they head to class with their books.
Care for Scoliosis and Other Spinal Conditions
Khavkin Clinic offers relief for those with spine issues, such as scoliosis. We pride ourselves on providing practical solutions and options for neurosurgery. Request an appointment from us today to see how we can help you. We got your back.