How Parents and Health Experts Can Spot Scoliosis in Kids

What the doctor looks for:

The screening examination for scoliosis is simple and painless. The doctor first inspects the back for any obvious deformity.

Then the child is asked to lean forward, with feet together, bending 90 degrees at the waist. In this position, if a child has scoliosis, a prominent “hump” will be apparent on one side of the back.

What parents can look for:

Several telltale signs in children suggest the possibility of scoliosis:

* The child’s shoulders, waist or hips appear uneven (one side is higher than the other).

* One of the child’s shoulder blades is more prominent than the other.

* The child appears to lean to one side.

The mere presence of these signs does not mean that a child has scoliosis.

That diagnosis can be made only after a complete physical examination by a doctor and an X-ray of the spine.