Free Growth Chart Helps Parents Monitor Child's Spine Health During National Scoliosis Awareness Month

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Jun 04, 2015, 10:00 ET

CHICAGO, June 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Early diagnosis is the key to treating scoliosis, an s-shaped curve of the spine often found in pre-adolescent children. Since June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month, spinal deformity physicians at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (MOR) are offering parents a complimentary at-home assessment kit.

MOR is the first center in the Midwest to develop and offer a chart that parents can use at home to measure their child's growth and monitor spine health. The chart provides aids in early detection of the progressive spine disease.

Scoliosis is often painless and detection can be difficult. "The most common sign is an abnormal curve in the waistline," said Dr. Christopher DeWald, spinal deformity surgeon at MOR. "The second most common sign is one shoulder blade appears farther back than the other."

Dr. DeWald stresses that 75 to 80 percent of scoliosis cases are found in girls. He says pediatricians are often the first to diagnosis the condition. "But grandmas are often the first to point it out, while they are at the pool with their offspring and notice the abnormal curve," he adds.

Scoliosis is characterized by an abnormal side-to-side "S- or C-" shaped curvature because the spine becomes rotated or twisted, pulling the ribs along with it. Three to five of every 1,000 children develop spinal curves over 50 degrees -- considered large enough to require surgery.

MOR's free growth chart features a life-size spine graphic, height indications, scoliosis signs and directions for conducting the Adams Forward Bend Test, a simple test for detecting scoliosis.

If you detect any scoliosis signs, you can contact the spine specialists at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (rushortho.com). Drs. DeWald and Howard An are among the most qualified experts in spinal deformities in the Midwest. To order the at-home assessment, contact: [email protected]. To learn more about scoliosis or make an appointment with Drs. An and DeWald: www.rushortho.com.

MOR's reputation as a leader in specialized orthopedic patient care, education and research is recognized by several national journals. U.S. News & World Report ranks the orthopedic program at Rush University Medical Center the top in Illinois and among the top six programs in the nation.

SOURCE Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush