(HealthDayNews) -- Does someone you know walk as if his or her back is bent out of shape? It may be a medical condition called scoliosis.
Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal disorder in which there is a sideways curvature of the spine, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says. Some people who have scoliosis require treatment, but others with milder forms may only need to visit a doctor for observation once in a while.
Of every 1,000 children, three to five develop spinal curves that are considered significant enough to need treatment. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common type, and normally occurs after age 10. Girls are more likely than boys to have this type of scoliosis, which can run in families.
A doctor will suggest the best treatment for each patient based on age, how much more he or she is likely to grow, the degree and pattern of the curve, and the type of scoliosis. The doctor may recommend observation, bracing or surgery.
