{"id":811,"date":"2026-06-27T08:10:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T06:10:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clinicaqo.es\/scoliosis-what-it-really-is-and-which-myths-you-can-forget\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T08:36:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T06:36:08","slug":"scoliosis-what-it-really-is-and-which-myths-you-can-forget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clinicaqo.es\/en\/scoliosis-what-it-really-is-and-which-myths-you-can-forget\/","title":{"rendered":"Scoliosis: What It Really Is (and Which Myths You Can Forget)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A mother watches her daughter try on a dress and notices something: one shoulder seems higher than the other, and the waist isn\u2019t quite symmetrical. Or maybe it\u2019s you, a few years older now, and your lower back aches every afternoon while someone mentions, almost in passing, the word \u201cscoliosis.\u201d In both cases, the same flood of doubts sets in: Is it serious? Did I do something wrong? Can it be corrected?<\/em> <\/p>\n\n

Let’s shed some light on this, because few spinal conditions are surrounded by so many myths. Scoliosis isn’t what many people think it is\u2014and understanding what it really is is the first step toward making good decisions. <\/p>\n\n

What is scoliosis (and what is it NOT)?<\/h2>\n\n
\"Illustration<\/figure>\n\n

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional<\/strong> curvature of the spine: when viewed from the front on an X-ray, instead of a straight line, it forms an “S” or a “C.” To be diagnosed as scoliosis, that curve must measure at least 10 degrees<\/strong> (the so-called \u201cCobb angle\u201d). And there\u2019s a key detail: the vertebrae not only tilt but also rotate<\/strong> around their own axes. <\/p>\n\n

Here\u2019s the first myth we need to debunk: scoliosis is not \u201cbad posture.\u201d<\/strong> It\u2019s not caused by sitting crooked, nor can it be corrected by \u201csitting up straight.\u201d It\u2019s a structural condition of the spine, and that completely changes how it\u2019s treated. <\/p>\n\n

Not all cases of scoliosis are the same<\/h2>\n\n
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Depending on their origin, there are several types:<\/p>\n\n

\n\n
Type<\/th>When it appears<\/th>Details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n
Idiopathic<\/strong><\/td>Especially during adolescence<\/td>The most common (>80%); exact cause unknown<\/td><\/tr>\n
Congenital<\/strong><\/td>From birth<\/td>Due to spinal malformations<\/td><\/tr>\n
Neuromuscular<\/strong><\/td>Associated with another disease<\/td>Cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy\u2026<\/td><\/tr>\n
Adult-Onset Degenerative Disease<\/strong><\/td>After 50, “de novo”<\/td>Due to asymmetric wear on discs and joints<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

The main focus is on idiopathic adolescent growth spurt<\/strong>: it occurs during the growth spurt, and although \u201cidiopathic\u201d may sound alarming, it simply means that there is no single identifiable cause.<\/p>\n\n

\"Assessment<\/figure>\n\n

Why does it appear? Neither backpacks nor sports <\/h2>\n\n

It’s time to debunk the most widespread myths, because they cause a lot of unnecessary guilt, especially within families.<\/p>\n\n

Idiopathic scoliosis is not caused by heavy backpacks<\/strong>, sleeping on one side, playing a specific sport, or sitting in an improper position. It does, however, have a strong genetic component<\/strong>: it is common for several cases to occur within the same family. A heavy backpack can cause back pain, true, but it does not lead to the structural deformity associated with scoliosis. <\/p>\n\n

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Did you know…?<\/strong> Mild scoliosis occurs with almost equal frequency in boys and girls, but girls are at much greater risk of the condition progressing: in cases of scoliosis exceeding 40 degrees, the ratio can be as high as 7 girls for every boy.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

How is it detected? Signs and the Adams test <\/h2>\n\n

In children and adolescents, scoliosis doesn’t usually cause pain<\/strong>, which is why it often goes unnoticed. The signs are visual: <\/p>\n\n