Degenerative scoliosis is often linked to adults and it’s, therefore, often referred to as ‘Adult Scoliosis’. The biggest difference with degenerative scoliosis when compared with other forms is the frequent presence of pain. This pain can be crippling, limiting sufferers from normal activities of daily living and enjoying life to the fullest.

Development of adult degenerative
scoliosis as a ‘‘vicious circle’’.

Degenerative scoliosis keeps progressing due to asymmetric loading on the spine [20]; in other words, an unbalanced spine wears out the spine unevenly. This can develop into a vicious cycle that keeps reinforcing itself. More often the lower back region is affected, and the lumbar spine may show severe degeneration and deformity.

Given the tendency of asymmetric loading of the spine eventually leading to a degenerative scoliosis problem, I feel it is important for patients to pay much attention to their spine and take good care of it to prevent further deterioration. This applies even to small scoliosis curves, as you can read about in my older blog post.

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20. Aebi M. The adult scoliosis.
Eur Spine J. 2005 Dec;14(10):925-48.