As the word "idiopathic" suggests, no one exactly knows why it occurs. It is well known to occur during the growth spurt of puberty, especially in girls. It also tends to run in families, suggesting a multifactorial hereditary predisposition.

Studies have shown biochemical changes in the vertebral bodies, the disc material, and even the Para spinal muscles. But one cannot be sure if these cause the scoliosis, or are changes that develop secondary to the scoliosis.

What Are The Symptoms?
Scoliosis does not cause pain in the growing child, so it was not unusual to be discovered only when the curvature was obvious, and severe. The observant teenager, or parent, may notice the shoulders and pelvis not being level while the child is standing. Or the patient may notice that her breasts are not quite symmetrical, or her bra does not fit too well.

More recently, with routine school screening, many children are referred with very early curves. This has been a great advance, because early treatment can be instituted.

The education that goes with the school screening also creates greater awareness of the problem, and encourages the child to talk about it if she suspects a problem. The danger, of course, is unnecessary X-rays and/or treatment in the hands of inexperienced or unscrupulous practitioners.