If you notice something off about your child’s posture or build as they’ve grown, they could have scoliosis. This is a spinal disease that causes an unnatural curvature in your child’s back, pushing their body out of alignment. Scoliosis can be difficult to spot, but with some warning signs, you can keep an eye out for your child’s spinal health. 

How To Tell If Your Child Has Scoliosis

1. Their Body Is Asymmetrical

As the spine curves to one side or the other, it will pull parts of the body with it, shoving them out of alignment. This results in an asymmetry in the shoulders, shoulder blades, hips, and waist. Your child’s shoulders may rest at different heights, and one of their shoulder blades may stick out more or be in a different position than the other.

Beyond the asymmetry, you may also notice that your child’s ribcage is more prominent than is normal, and the two halves may be uneven. It can also cause rounding of the back as the curve develops further.

2. They Complain of Back Pain

While it doesn’t often cause back pain in younger children, teenagers with more severe spinal curves may begin to experience pain if it isn’t addressed. This is due to the curvature in the spine applying pressure to their discs, joints, nerves, ligaments, and vertebrae. Back pain is a serious sign, as it often indicates another underlying issue or a severe curvature.

3. Their Clothes Don’t Fit Well

Because of the shift in their body’s posture, your child’s clothes may fit differently or improperly. If their shoulders are unaligned, the sleeves of their t-shirts will appear to fall at different lengths on their arms. Their pants legs will appear to be different lengths, too, if their hips are uneven. Shirts and sweaters may appear to cling in unusual places if your child’s chest is prominent or their back is rounded. If you notice any of these signs, have your child examined by a physician. When caught early, a spinal curve is easily managed through chiropractic treatment, such as a back brace, without surgery.

When you need an experienced chiropractor to manage your child’s scoliosis, West Chiropractic Clinic in Soldotna, AK, will be there for you. Whether you’ve been in a car accident, suffer from aches and pains, or have a chronic condition, their compassionate team will provide effective chiropractic treatment to restore your body’s health. They’re able to provide worker’s comp rehabilitation, too, and they have on-site massage therapy. Their board-certified physician has more than 38 years of experience in chiropractic care, and their emphasis on full-body wellness ensures you get individualized, custom treatments. View their back pain services online, then call (907) 262-9171 to schedule a consult.