Others, such as idiopathic scoliosis, will usually develop as the child grows, most often during the child’s adolescent growth spurt. Sometimes, spine problems are detected before birth using a prenatal ultrasound. Several spine problems can be seen at or shortly after birth. When should you seek medical advice for a spine problem? related to infections such as osteomyelitis.related to spinal cord injury with paralysis.related to connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.related to metabolic conditions (internal body chemistry).the result of bone dysplasia (genetically abnormal bone growth).neuromuscular (associated with a neuromuscular condition such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida).syndromes that affect neurologic function.metabolic conditions that affect the bones.Common risk factors and predispositions for spine conditions include: Risk factors for developing a spine problem vary from condition to condition. A spine with scoliosis is also rotated or twisted, pulling the ribs along with it to form a multidimensional curve. The curve may take the shape of an “S” (double curve) or a long “C” (single curve). Hyper-lordosis, also known as "swayback," occurs when the inward curve in the lower back is too great.Ī side-to-side curve is called scoliosis.Thoracic lordosis describes a condition of the spine in which the natural outward curve of the thoracic spine is reversed, curving into the chest.Hypo-kyphosis describes when there's not enough backward curve in the thoracic spine.Kyphosis, also known as thoracic hyper-kyphosis or “round back," is a backward curve in the thoracic spine that has become too extreme.When the natural front-to-back curve in a child’s back becomes too large, they may have kyphosis or lordosis. There are several ways a spine can curve abnormally. As children grow, their spine continues to develop natural curves into a normal, mature spine.Secondary curves in the cervical and lumbar spine develop as infants become able to lift their heads, sit up, crawl, stand, and walk. As babies, children have a C-shaped spine.During fetal development, the primary curves in the thoracic spine develop, as well as the sacral curve at the bottom of the spine.While spines vary in size and shape from person to person, a healthy spine has natural front-to-back curves that make it possible to walk, balance, sit, stand, and twist, all of which are complex, interactive movements.Ĭhildren’s spines naturally curve in stages: The lumbar spine and sacral spine refer to the lower back.Ī normal spine is strong and mobile.The thoracic spine refers to the chest.The sections of the spine have specific names. Still others are caused by injuries that compromise the structure of the spine. Other spine problems occur when the vertebrae are not strong enough to support the spine. Some spine problems develop when normal spinal curves grow too large, or the spine curves in the wrong way. Some degree of front-to-back spinal curvature is healthy and supports everyday movement. Together the vertebrae, discs, muscles, and ligaments make up the vertebral column or spine. Because the vertebrae are separate, the spine is flexible and can bend. Flat, soft discs separate and cushion the vertebrae from rubbing against each other. The spine is made up of many individual bones called vertebrae joined together by muscles and ligaments.