What Degree of Curvature Is Considered Scoliosis?
What Degree of Curvature Is Considered Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a condition that causes individuals to have a side-to-side curve in their spine. While it is often found in adolescents, scoliosis is also commonly seen in adults. Small curves in the spine rarely result in any problems. However, treatment may be necessary when the curvature progresses. It’s essential to find out the degree of curvature to create a beneficial plan of action and reduce its effects.
The Cobb Angle
Medical professionals use a tool known as the Cobb Angle to evaluate the spines curve. Specialists use X-rays and measurements to discover the severity and determine treatment plans.
Professionals who find a spinal curvature higher than 10 degrees consider the individual to have scoliosis. Typically, the higher the Cobb Angle degree, the more severe the scoliosis is. However, scoliosis often differs from person to person, based on their age and level of severity. These differences will result in professionals using various strategies for treatment, if any is necessary at all.
Due to spine maturity and growth, a 25-degree Cobb Angle in an 8-year-old boy, who still has years of growing left, may result in necessary treatment. If a similar Cobb Angle measurement is in a 26-year-old man who has stopped growing, treatment is a less likely option.
Treatment for Varying Levels of Curvature
The degrees of scoliosis that require treatment vary. Treatment is often determined by a person’s age and the severity of the curvature. With the help of the Cobb Angle, professionals can easily discover the severity of each case. There are three categories of scoliosis severity:
- Mild: For those with a degree less than 25. Mild cases rarely need treatment but will require regular checkups to monitor their development. Some professionals may suggest functional treatments to slow progression and correct structure.
- Moderate: For those with a degree of 25 to 40. Health care professionals may continue to watch and wait. Others will suggest using a back brace if they believe it is likely to progress. Specialists may also give at-home exercises and curvature reduction activities.
- Severe: For those with a degree of 40 to 60 or more. This phase is often the beginning of talks of surgery to correct the spine’s curvature, known as a spinal fusion.
Contact Spine INA Today
As a progression condition, it’s essential to receive treatment to limit or reduce scoliosis’s effects on your body. Our medical professionals at the Spine Insitute of North America will create a customized plan of care to get you back to feeling your best.
Schedule a visit with our specialists today or contact us online to learn more about how we can help you!
