Mid & Upper Back

What It Is

Your spine helps to hold your body in an upright position. Without the spine, you wouldn't be able to walk, play sports or run. If you were to look at yourself in the mirror sideways or look at a friend from the side, you will notice that their back isn't flat like a board. Instead, the spine will curve in and out between the lower part of the back and the neck. This is completely normal and everyone has these curves.

The problem for those who have scoliosis is that the spine curves sideways (laterally) – from one side to the other if you look from the back – and also twists, so that it can look more like the letter "C" or "S" (AAOS, n.d.). Scoliosis can affect people of any age, but it most often starts in children aged 10 to 15 (NHS, 2023a). In most cases the exact cause is not known; this is called idiopathic scoliosis. If a child is still growing, a curve can get worse quickly during a growth spurt, which is why curves in children need expert attention (AAOS, n.d.).

Signs of Scoliosis

A visibly curved spine
Leaning to one side
Uneven shoulders, or one shoulder blade sticking out more than the other
One hip higher than the other, or sticking out
The ribs sticking out on one side
Clothes not fitting well

See your family doctor or nurse practitioner if you think your child has scoliosis. It's unlikely that there's anything seriously wrong, but it's best to get it checked out (NHS, 2023a).

Scoliosis in Children and Adolescents Anatomy

Understanding your spine will help you understand more about a scoliosis. Your spine is composed of multiple small bones (vertebrae), which sit on top of each other. These vertebrae allow movement to the spine, but in providing this movement, they can rotate or side-flex.

A spinal cord runs through the middle of the vertebrae. Nerves come out from the spinal cord and form peripheral nerves which travel along various parts of the body, notably the arms and legs.

Discs sit between the vertebrae and these act as cushions or shock absorbers for the spinal joints.

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

How Scoliosis in Children and Adolescents is Treated

Treatment depends on your child's age, how severe the curve is, and whether it is getting worse. Many children will not need any treatment, and only a small number end up having surgery (NHS, 2023b).

1. Orthopedist Visit

If your family doctor or nurse practitioner suspects scoliosis, they should refer you to a specialist (NHS, 2023a). This is often an orthopedist, a doctor for bone and joint conditions. They will begin by determining how severe the curve in the spine is. They will take X-rays and measure the degrees relating to the curve, similar to measuring an angle in math (AAOS, n.d.). Smaller curves are often simply monitored, with regular check-ups and X-rays to make sure the curve is not getting worse (AAOS, n.d.; NHS, 2023b).

2. Exercise and Physical Therapy

I can support your child's specialist's plan with gentle hands-on work for the aches, tight or tired muscles and stiffness that can come with scoliosis, and a home exercise programme for strength. I don't treat the curve itself. See the My Approach tab for how I work.

Regular exercise is important for children with scoliosis. It can help improve muscle strength and may help reduce any back pain (NHS, 2023b). Some specialist guidelines recommend scoliosis-specific exercises, taught by specially trained therapists, to help limit a curve getting worse (Negrini et al., 2018). However, the NHS says it is not yet clear whether specific back exercises or physiotherapy can help improve scoliosis, and they are not recommended by all specialists (NHS, 2023b).

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or specialist

Options outside my scope

Bracing: a custom-made back brace worn while a child is still growing will not correct a curve that is already there, but it may help stop it getting worse; the specialist decides whether a brace is needed and how long it should be worn each day (NHS, 2023b; AAOS, n.d.).
Surgery: for a severe curve, an operation called a spinal fusion can straighten the spine using metal rods (NHS, 2023b; AAOS, n.d.).

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Gentle hands-on work for achy, tight or tired muscles
A home stretching and strengthening programme for you and your child
Support for comfort while wearing a brace, and after surgery once the surgeon agrees

Tips

Exercise is encouraged, and children with scoliosis can usually do most types of exercise unless a specialist advises otherwise (NHS, 2023b).
Remain physically fit and exercise on a regular basis; it is good for muscle strength and may help reduce back pain (NHS, 2023b).
Participating in sports can help; specialist guidelines encourage young people with scoliosis to take part in sport (Negrini et al., 2018).
Scoliosis is not caused by things like poor posture, exercise, sport or carrying a heavy backpack (NHS, 2023a; AAOS, n.d.).

Treatment

My Approach

Scoliosis in a growing child is monitored and treated by their specialist, who decides on check-ups, bracing or surgery. Massage and exercise can't straighten the curve or stop it changing, so I don't treat the curve itself. I help with what can come with it: aches, tight or tired muscles, stiffness, and staying strong and active, working within the specialist's plan.

I start by assessing your child's posture, how their spine, ribcage and hips move, and their strength and flexibility. Parents are welcome to sit in, with their child's agreement.

How I Help

Gentle hands-on work for tight, tired or achy muscles in the back, shoulders, ribcage and hips
Easing muscles that work harder in a brace, keeping off any sore or rubbed skin
A home programme of stretches and light strengthening that I'll show you and your child
Encouraging sport and exercise, as the specialist allows

After Surgery

After a spinal fusion, I need the surgeon's okay before any hands-on treatment. Once cleared, I can help with swelling, stiffness, muscles working overtime, the scar once it has fully healed, and rebuilding strength. I don't move the fused area or the joints next to it, or use heat over the metal rods.

Work around the hips or buttocks is only with informed consent and a written consent form; for younger children, a parent or caregiver gives this. If you notice the curve changing, see your child's specialist or your family doctor or nurse practitioner.

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: Visits fit around the specialist's plan. Most children come weekly, or once or twice a week if things are sore, for about six weeks; then we reassess and space visits out as you manage the home programme. The specialist follows the curve over the growing years; our aim over those first weeks is easing aches and stiffness.

What I Focus On

Working Within the Specialist's Plan

Muscle Comfort

Home Programme

Staying Active

Care After Surgery

Sources

References

NHS (2023a) Scoliosis. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scoliosis/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
NHS (2023b) Scoliosis: treatment in children. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scoliosis/treatment-in-children/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Idiopathic scoliosis in children and adolescents. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/diseases--conditions/idiopathic-scoliosis-in-children-and-adolescents/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Negrini, S. et al. (2018) '2016 SOSORT guidelines: orthopaedic and rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth', Scoliosis and Spinal Disorders, 13, p. 3. doi: 10.1186/s13013-017-0145-8

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooScoliosis in Children and Adolescents

What It Is

Signs of Scoliosis

Scoliosis in Children and Adolescents Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How Scoliosis in Children and Adolescents is Treated

1. Orthopedist Visit

2. Exercise and Physical Therapy

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or specialist

Tips

My Approach

How I Help

After Surgery

Typical Course

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooScoliosis in Children and Adolescents

What It Is

Signs of Scoliosis

Scoliosis in Children and Adolescents Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How Scoliosis in Children and Adolescents is Treated

1. Orthopedist Visit

2. Exercise and Physical Therapy

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or specialist

Tips

My Approach

How I Help

After Surgery

Typical Course

References

Related Conditions

Congenital Scoliosis

Cervical Kyphosis

Scoliosis

Long Thoracic Nerve Palsy

Book a session