What is scoliosis and what causes it?                         Scoliosis  is  an  unhealthy  curvature  of  a  normally straight  spine,  affecting 12 million  people worldwide. A  rotation  of  the  vertebra  and the  rib  cage usually accompanies this unhealthy curve. Left untreated, this unhealthy curve can worsen and cause disfigurement, respiratory  and  digestive  problems,  and  debilitating pain. Most  scoliosis  patients  are  diagnosed between ages 12 and 16,  although there  are many adults who suffer from the disease as well.     Scoliosis is a progressive disease which can continue to  progress  into maturity. As such, it is a disease that must be monitored aggressively.     The  unhealthy  curve  may  be  slight  or significant, and  may  include  the  lumbar  (lower spine),  thoracic (middle spine),  or  thoracolumbar  ( both  middle and lower  spine ).   The   cause   of   scoliosis   is  complex; potential    contributing    factors   may   include   other diseases,  trauma,  or  injuries.   Idiopathic  scoliosis  is one  of  the most common types of scoliosis; the cause is unknown. Scoliosis in Adults     Many   adults   suffer   from  scoliosis,  typically  as  a progression  of  the disease from childhood. However, degenerative  changes  in the spine can cause scoliosis in   otherwise   healthy   adults.  These   incidents  may have been initiated through trauma or disease such as fractures,     osteoporosis,     or     degenerative     disc conditions. Noticeable changes often include: Rib hump Low hip Low pelvis Leg length discrepancies     Some scoliosis patients have breathing difficulty and neuropathy.  Since  many  early degenerative changes are   shown   in  younger  patients,  adults  often  have severely   advanced   degenerative   changes   on   the spine.     The    SpineCor    non-rigid    bracing    system   is   a revolutionary  way  of  managing scoliosis in adults. By allowing  total  freedom   of  movement,  the  SpineCor brace : Strengthens affected muscle groups Allows for proprioceptive input, which is an integral component in neuromuscular reeducation Provides relief from muscular strain do to chronic postural changes Provides relief of chronic pain