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Does Bad Posture Lead to Scoliosis?


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Scoliosis or better known as abnormal curvature of the spine typically curves into a ‘C’-shape or ‘S’-shape when look at from the back. Since your back is curved and you tend to tilt to one side or one of your shoulders could be lower than the other, a common question pops up, "If I have poor sitting posture where I tend to lean on something, will I develop scoliosis?".

The short answer is no. Scoliosis does not come from any types of sports involvement, backpacks, sleeping positions, posture, or minor leg length differences.

The most common form is Scoliosis is Idiopathic Scoliosis, which basically means cause unknown. Recent research have found some genetic evidence linked to scoliosis. That means, the reason why the spine curve is because it is genetically predisposed to do so. Not because of some external forces working on the spine to curve, like posture or heavy backpacks.

Because of the genetic nature of the condition, external non-evasive treatment like manipulation and exercise will not be successful. Unless the degree of curvature is severe, surgery is not necessary. In fact, often people with mild scoliosis do not experience back pain as a result of the curvature.

Only in cases of spinal curvature due to weakness or tightness of the muscles/joints surrounding the spine can external non-evasive treatments such as joint mobilisation and exercise be effective. However, this is not true scoliosis.

Here’s 9 simple tips getting the right sitting posture. At the end of the day, move, stand up and take frequent breaks. There is no perfect posture that allows you to remain in a fixed position for long periods of time.

Creative Commons LicenseThis work by Musculoskeletal Consumer Review is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Singapore License. This article was contributed by Core Concepts - Musculoskeletal Health Group. In the spirit of promoting health education, you may copy, distribute and transmit the work under the conditions specified by the license. For articles re-printed with permission, copyright remains with the original copyright holder (author or publisher). MCR's Creative Commons License does not apply in such cases.

Comments

  • Core Concepts

    Core Concepts jointly with the Healthway Medical Group is presenting a public talk on Scoliosis: “Surgery, Bracing and Physiotherapy” on 23rd January 2010.

    For more details, visit http://scoliosis.coreconcepts.com.sg/publictalk/

  • Andy

    Thanks for the article. Really helped me clarify things up for me!

    Cheers!

  • Professer

    I developed late-onset idiosyncratic scoliosis from a case of extreme bad posture. I was addicted to online games for 6 years, from about 13-19, and would be in a computer chair 6-10+ hours every day for those 6 years. It was all I lived for at the time. I’d always sit slouched in one of those big comfy computer chairs that really aren’t good for posture even if you try to sit properly in them.I have had pain from that area in the past but it was minor and not significant, would only come out in rather extensive periods of stress of bad posture and the gradually curving spine. Sometime when I was 19, sitting there gaming as usual, a really bad back pain just showed up out of nowhere. The pain was BAD at first (and for a while initially) and it did not go away. I had progressively developed ate-onset idiosyncratic scoliosis. Was diagnosed and everything.

    Now, this is a rather extreme case and the degree of curvature of my spine wasn’t severe, Not to discredit this article though, the moral of the story is you should use good posture it’s good fo you, and dont form a excessive unhealthy habbit/addiciton like I did.