What is the incidence rate of spinal curvature in children and adolescents?

What is the incidence rate of spinal curvature in children and adolescents?

Based on screenings, the current incidence rate of spinal curvature among primary and middle school students in China is approximately 20%. Spinal curvature can generally be divided into two main categories: idiopathic scoliosis (IS) and postural scoliosis. About 80% of spinal curvatures are idiopathic, which refers to structural spinal curvatures that are difficult to self-correct. The etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) remains unclear, and the prevalence ranges from 0.93% to 12%. The risk of AIS is approximately equal in both males and females. However, during the rapid growth phase of puberty, females face 5 to 10 times higher risk of AIS progression and the possibility of more severe conditions compared to males. Without early intervention and treatment, this could lead to significant deformities in the torso. Postural scoliosis, on the other hand, is a functional type of spinal curvature, often referred to as "pseudo-scoliosis," caused by factors such as poor posture, leg length discrepancy, and asymmetric paravertebral muscle strength. Usually, after eliminating the causative factors, the degree of curvature in patients' spines will decrease or even completely return to normal curvature. However, if not carefully managed, postural scoliosis occurring before adolescence has the potential to develop into structural spinal curvature.