Scoliosis Causes & Risks

Causes

In most cases, the cause of scoliosis is not known. Sometimes it is related to a congenital birth defect, disease, or infection. It usually develops in childhood before puberty, though it may not be diagnosed until the teen years. Scoliosis is classified on the age at diagnosis:

Adolescent scoliosis—1-17 years old

Juvenile scoliosis—3-10 years old

Infantile scoliosis—younger than three years old

• This form may result from:
  • Birth defects
  • Diseases of the nerves and muscles ( muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy )
  • Injury
  • Infection
  • Tumors

Occasionally, the spine curvature of scoliosis is due to a muscle imbalance rather than a spinal deformity.

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.

Risk factors include:

• Age: Adolescent years (after age 10)
• Family members who have had scoliosis
• Delayed puberty and menarche in girls