Most modern medical web sites state that 80% of the cases of scoliosis are of unknown origin. This is of interest because if you collect old medical books for a hobby like I do, you will find lots of causes listed for scoliosis -- ideas that either seem to have been lost, discredited or discarded over the last 50 or so years. I personally found a lot of wisdom and helpful tips for my own scoliosis in my old medical books. I put up this page because I think some of that "dated" scoliosis information deserves a second look.

Basically, early 20th century doctors thought that anything that might cause a person to have pressure put on the spine, unbalanced muscles or a spine pulled out of place even temporarily through poor posture, poor work or study habits may, over time,could induce a permanent change to muscles and bones. I think they were right. In my case my scoliosis was caused at least in part by tight muscles in my leg pulling on my back causing my spine to be pulled out of shape. As I've been freeing up my leg muscles and watching my posture, my scoliosis is improving to the point where it barely noticeable these days, even though several years ago, it was so bad I had to have my suits altered to fit my curves. I even had one arm that hung three inches lower than the other, though today they both hang evenly.

Listed below are some of the causes of scoliosis from page 98 of Lateral Curvature of the Spine and Round Shoulders, by Robert W. Lovett, M.D. (John B. and Buckminster Brown Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School. Published 1916, by P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Phileldelphia. Third Edition.)

I don't think that the list above is entirely accurate as to being able to differentiate what logically causes scoliosis, what is an effect of scoliosis and conditions merely associated with spinal curvature, but overall I think it represents a logical and thoughtful view of the conditions associated with the disorder. This is especially true considering the author made this chart almost a century ago.

I think it gives one a lot of food for thought about factors that can influence compared to the standard and rather simplistic "80% of the cases of scoliosis are idiopathic" standard line patients are told today.

Notes:

(1) From Lovett, p. 104, "Indeed, some writers would go so far as to assume that practically all organic scoliosis, not obviously due to a congenital defect or some such obvious cause as empyema or paralysis, was due to rickets."

I suspect that some cases of scoliosis are caused by mild and undiagnosed modern cases of rickets, due to the fact that many people with scoliosis also often have other features common to rickets, such as osteopenia, chest deformities and hypermobile and hyperextendable joints.

(2) Recent studies have shown a strong link between scoliosis and osteopenia, a condition of lowered bone density, confirming Dr. Lovett's listed cause of "diseases of the bone".

For more on this read my section on pectus excavatum on my connective tissue disorder site.