Who is Affected by Scoliosis?

While scoliosis usually presents itself between 9 and 12 years of age, it can also go undiagnosed until adulthood. Overall, about the same number of men and women are diagnosed with scoliosis but young women diagnosed as an adolescent or young adult face a progression rate of seven to eight times higher than boys.

Children or adolescents who are diagnosed often have a form of the disorder called adolescent idiopathic scoliosis meaning that the cause of the curvature is unknown. This type of scoliosis affects children between 10 and 18 years of age and does affect girls more than boys.

Most adults with scoliosis also have an idiopathic form where the cause is unknown. Some adults, however, have degenerative adult scoliosis that can be caused by degeneration, osteoporosis or osteomalacia -- a softening of the bones. Scoliosis can also appear following spinal surgery for other conditions that may cause an imbalance in the spine that leads to scoliosis.