Is the incidence of spinal scoliosis related to gender and weight?

Is the incidence of spinal scoliosis related to gender and weight?

The incidence of spinal scoliosis is indeed related to gender and weight.

Before the age of 8, there is no significant gender difference in the occurrence of spinal scoliosis. However, with the onset of puberty, the occurrence and progression risk of scoliosis in females are much higher than in males, with a ratio ranging from 2:1 to 7:1 (females to males). This may be related to changes in estrogen levels.

Weight is closely related to the incidence of spinal scoliosis. Compared to normal-weight and overweight adolescents, underweight adolescents have a 1.5 times higher risk of developing scoliosis. The reason may be that a lower body mass index (BMI) indicates lower muscle content in the body, which negatively affects the stability of the spine and increases the risk of scoliosis. Therefore, maintaining a normal weight is also a necessary measure to prevent and reduce the risk of scoliosis.

Is there a relationship between abnormal spinal morphology and back pain in adolescents?

Currently, in our country, over 30% of adolescents suffer from back pain caused by poor sitting posture and other issues.

Most of the back pain experienced by adolescents is of unknown origin and is commonly attributed to factors such as poor posture, lack of exercise, prolonged sitting, family history, and heavy school bags. The adolescent period is a peak time for growth and development, and the spine is still not fully formed. Poor posture during this time can alter the mechanical structure of the spine, and lack of exercise leads to insufficient and imbalanced muscle strength around the spine, making it susceptible to deformation and causing pain. Furthermore, if an adolescent experiences back pain for more than three months, it's important to be vigilant about the possibility of ankylosing spondylitis, a condition characterized by prominent symptoms of back pain and stiffness, especially in the morning.

Why is spinal examination necessary?

A substantial amount of research indicates a trend of younger onset for spinal conditions. During childhood and adolescence, the skeleton contains less mineral content, making the bones less stable and more prone to deformities. Additionally, many children spend excessive time using electronic devices, face academic pressures, engage in prolonged sedentary activities, lack physical exercise, and adopt incorrect body postures (such as walking with a hunched posture, looking down, and napping on the desk). These factors can lead to poor spinal alignment and cause neck, shoulder, and back pain, among other issues. Regular spinal examinations help to detect problems early and facilitate timely intervention, effectively preventing further deterioration of spinal abnormalities and reducing the difficulty and surgical risks of treatment after the completion of skeletal development.

Can spinal scoliosis correct itself?

Spinal scoliosis presents in various types, and non-structural scoliosis patients and some mild scoliosis patients can achieve self-correction through exercise interventions and correcting poor postures. However, it is essential to ensure the scientificity of exercises, as incorrect forms or overexertion may have counterproductive effects, leading to an increase in the degree of scoliosis and even causing exercise-related injuries.

On the other hand, structural scoliosis patients and those with moderate to severe scoliosis are unlikely to achieve self-correction. Even if they undergo surgery to restore normal spinal curvature, they still need to wear braces and undergo functional training during the post-surgery phase.

Is there a relationship between abnormal spinal morphology and neck and shoulder pain in adolescents?

In recent years, the incidence of neck and shoulder pain in adolescents in China has shown a significant increase, and it rises with age, with over 50% of adolescents experiencing intermittent neck and shoulder pain. The causes of adolescent neck and shoulder pain include genetic spinal health issues, using high and hard pillows during sleep, napping on desks, spending prolonged periods looking down while using smartphones and doing homework, inadequate physical exercise, and academic pressure, among others.

Furthermore, abnormal cervical spine morphology not only leads to physiological pain but also affects body posture, resulting in poor body alignment, such as rounded shoulders, forward head posture, tilting head, and "wealth hump," among other poor postures.

How can schools strengthen adolescents' awareness of spinal health?

Scoliosis is highly prevalent among school-age adolescents, and the risk of scoliosis progression significantly increases after the age of 10. Therefore, schools play a vital role in shaping students' awareness of spinal health. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment are crucial for preventing and treating scoliosis. Adolescents should pay attention to maintaining good sitting and standing postures and engage in regular muscle exercises. Schools should actively promote knowledge about spinal health and proper body postures, increase physical activities, and conduct regular preliminary screenings for scoliosis among students.

How can parents conduct spinal morphology checks for their children?

Parents can perform preliminary spinal morphology checks on their children using two methods:

1. Standing Examination

Standing posture: The child's upper body is exposed, standing straight with feet shoulder-width apart, arms naturally hanging down, facing forward, and back turned away from the parents.

Observation:

(a) Are both shoulders at the same height?

(b) Are the left and right scapulae symmetrical on both sides of the spine, and are their lower angles at the same height?

(c) Are the waist concavities on both sides symmetrical?

Judgment criteria: If any of the above observations is negative, there may be a problem with spinal morphology.

2. Adams Forward Bending Test

Standing posture: The child's waist and back are exposed, standing straight with feet together and legs straightened. Then, bend forward 90 degrees, allowing the upper body to naturally hang down, hands clasped together and placed between the knees, and neck relaxed and naturally hanging.

Sitting posture: The child sits on a stool, with feet apart at shoulder width, knees bent at a 90-degree angle, arms extended straight, hands clasped together, and then slowly bends forward until the upper body is close to but not touching the thighs, with the neck relaxed and naturally hanging.

Testing method: Parents stand behind the child, with both eyes on the child's back, observing whether both sides of the back are at the same height. Use a scoliometer to measure the angle of the least symmetric side of the back.

Judgment criteria: An angle of <5 degrees is negative, 5 degrees to 7 degrees (excluding 7 degrees) is positive (referral threshold, a retest is needed after 3 months), and ≥7 degrees is strongly positive (highly suspected scoliosis, referral to a hospital for X-ray examination is recommended).