What is idiopathic scoliosis? Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a complex 3-dimensional condition of the spine and trunk. Although many consider scoliosis to be a single spinal curve, the 3-dimensionality means that not only does the spine bend laterally but also rotates/twists in the transverse plane and may be flattened when viewed from the side. Patients… Read More
The Cobb method of measuring scoliosis is the basis for diagnosis, prognosis and standard of care for treatment. Using the Cobb method, the Cobb angle (some refer to it as Cobb’s angle) is determined. This measurement is an important aspect of scoliosis to understand. Understanding Cobb’s method a little better may help you gain insight… Read More
When do doctors recommend an MRI for scoliosis? Typically MRIs are diagnosed for patients diagnosed in the juvenile phase (<ten-years-old) or for adolescents experiencing atypical characteristics of idiopathic scoliosis. More specifically, an MRI for scoliosis may be recommended when a patient has numbness, weakness, pain, or an asymmetric loss of reflexes. An MRI can help… Read More
Scoliosis Angle – What is the Difference Between the Cobb Angle and Scoliometer Measurement? Patients and parents often confuse the measurements that doctors use to evaluate scoliosis, specifically Cobb angle and Scoliometer. These scoliosis angle measurements are very different. Both are used by doctors to monitor scoliosis and to determine whether scoliosis is improving (yes, this is possible… Read More
We occasionally see patients that present with scoliosis and leg length discrepancy (LLD). In these cases, scoliosis can be either caused by or exacerbated by a leg length discrepancy. Leg length discrepancy can be either a true discrepancy or as a result of pelvic obliquity. How do you tell if you have a true leg… Read More
How does a child diagnosed with scoliosis during a school screening end up with a 71º scoliosis by the end of the school year? That was the predicament that one of our NY patients, and her parents, found themselves in. The answer, unfortunately, is a scoliosis screening where the adults doing the screening didn’t convey… Read More
Updated: February 3, 2025. Idiopathic scoliosis can appear without warning. Knowing the signs of scoliosis may help you detect an emerging curve so you can take action. Scoliosis is most often diagnosed during adolescence but if you have concerns, for example, due to family history, you may want to begin checking your children before adolescence…. Read More
What is progressive scoliosis? Progressive scoliosis is a spinal curvature that increases more than 5º in Cobb angle within 6 months as measured on the AP/PA view of a full spine x-ray. There is no foolproof way for physicians to determine whether scoliosis will get worse after a diagnosis, predict whose scoliosis will be progressive and… Read More
Scoliosis and x-rays go hand and hand but parents, and even some kids, have concerns about x-ray frequency to monitor spinal changes during growth. We understand the concerns about scoliosis and x-rays and figured it is about time to address them. X-ray evaluation is a necessary part of monitoring scoliosis. X-rays allow physicians to measure Cobb… Read More
At Scoliosis 3DC® when evaluating scoliosis, chest expansion is one measure we use to create a baseline in order to track and monitor progress. This is because respiratory deficits associated with thoracic scoliosis can occur as a secondary response to decreased rib mobility. A maligned thorax in three planes -sagittal, frontal (coronal) and transverse (rotational)… Read More
