Medical conditions

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional morphological deformity of the spine. It is characterized by a deviation of the spine in the frontal plane to the left or right, resulting in an “S” or “C” shape, accompanied by an improper positioning of the vertebrae. Scoliosis may have several causes and may be an adaptive scoliosis due, for example, to one lower limb being shorter, pelvic rotation, or a cranio-cervical problem. It may also be caused by vertebral malformations or anomalies (e.g. a wedge vertebra, vertebral arthrodesis, among others), leading to adaptation of the spine. There are also neuromuscular and dystrophic scolioses, which develop associated with neurological and muscular pathologies such as cerebral palsy, myelomeningocele, poliomyelitis, or muscular dystrophies. Antalgic scolioses, often called false scolioses, are caused by the action of the body’s automatic defense mechanisms, whose role is to mask pain. Another condition that may be observed is the so-called scoliotic attitude, often confused with antalgic scoliosis because it presents similarly; however, there is no apparent painful cause.