Orthopedic surgeon warned about the risks of scoliosis for teenagers

With the start of the new school year, children return to active life, and their health issues become especially relevant. In recent years, scoliosis, like obesity and myopia, has become one of the serious diseases that threaten the physical condition of adolescents. On September 4, the Guangming Daily reported on the consequences of spinal curvature, how it can be recognized and treated at an early stage.

"If a child has high or low shoulders, hunchbacked posture, or curvature in movement, this may be a signal of spinal problems such as scoliosis. This is not just a bad posture, but a three—dimensional deformity of the spine that requires early intervention," said Huang Jinghui, director of the orthopedic department at the Xijing Hospital of the Air Force Military Medical University.

Scoliosis is a deformity of the spine when the angle of curvature on the Cobb scale exceeds 10 degrees. In the early stages, the disease can occur without pronounced symptoms, which makes it easily ignored. Nevertheless, the consequences can be serious: scoliosis leads to physical deformities such as back curvature, high and low shoulders, pelvic tilt, and other changes in appearance. In severe cases, curvature of the spine threatens compression of the heart, lungs and other organs.

In addition, the psychological impact of scoliosis on adolescents should not be underestimated. Many young people suffering from this disease have problems with self-esteem and do not want to participate in social activities, which negatively affects their mental health.

Experts emphasize the importance of early detection and timely intervention in scoliosis. It is recommended to carry out a simple inspection at home. Parents can ask the child to take off his outer clothing, stand up straight, fold his legs and conduct an inspection from behind. It is important to check whether the shoulders are at the same level, whether the angles of the shoulder blades and lumbar lines are symmetrical, whether the levels of the pelvic bones are equal, and whether the spine is aligned. The Adams forward bending test is also useful: the child stands up with straight legs, bends forward, and the parents examine his back for any abnormalities. If any abnormalities are found, it is recommended to contact an orthopedic clinic immediately for a more detailed examination.

An orthopedist at Xijing Hospital, Li Donglin, explained that the treatment methods for scoliosis depend on its form and severity. In the case of a lung, regular rehabilitation and follow-up are recommended. For more serious types of the disease, orthopedic correctors or even surgical intervention may be required. Experts strongly advise not to delay treatment and not to trust unofficial methods of treatment, so as not to miss the time for effective intervention.

On May 22, Olga Chizhevskaya, director of the Podiatr Company and head of the Podiatry League Association of Medical Centers and Doctors, told Izvestia about the causes of flat feet and scoliosis. According to her, the main danger of muscle imbalance lies in changing the biomechanics of the child's movements. Overworked muscles work in an "emergency" mode, get tired quickly and fix joints poorly, weakened ones cannot effectively participate in movements and maintain posture.

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