Back asymmetry, pelvic tilt, high and low shoulders... If a child experiences these symptoms, there may be scoliosis. This easily overlooked disease has become the third major threat to adolescent health after obesity and myopia. May 21st is World Spine Health Day. The reporter interviewed relevant experts to listen together: What are the hazards of scoliosis? How to detect illnesses in the first place? How to scientifically treat and prevent? The spine of normal people should be a straight line from the back, if there is "S" or "C" bending, it belongs to scoliosis. Simply put, it's like a tree growing crooked. Scoliosis is more common in children and adolescents aged 10 to 16. According to statistics, the incidence rate of scoliosis in adolescents in China ranges from 2% to 3%. ”Sun Haolin, Assistant Dean and Executive Deputy Director of Orthopedics at Peking University First Hospital, introduced that the most common idiopathic scoliosis accounts for more than 80% of adolescent cases. Currently, the cause is not yet clear and may be related to factors such as genetics and bone development. Hu Ming, Deputy Chief Physician of the Spinal Surgery Department at Beijing Delkoni Orthopedic Hospital, pointed out that scoliosis can cause uneven shoulders, raised back, hunchback, pelvic tilt, and limping when walking in children, affecting their posture and confidence; Severe scoliosis may compress the chest cavity, affecting respiratory system development, leading to decreased lung capacity and symptoms of heart disease; Children are also prone to psychological problems such as inferiority complex, anxiety, depression, and social avoidance. Children and adolescents are at the peak of their growth and development, and scoliosis is progressing rapidly. If one maintains the same posture for a long time without moving, sitting improperly, sleeping poorly, lacking exercise, playing with electronic devices, etc., it may lead to increasingly serious scoliosis problems. ”Hu Ming said. The "four self-assessment actions" are targeted to adjust prevention and intervention strategies for scoliosis. There are no obvious symptoms in the early stage of scoliosis, and it has a certain degree of concealment. Experts say that some teenagers are accustomed to wearing loose clothes and often hunch their heads. If parents do not have this health awareness, it is difficult to detect whether their children have scoliosis problems in the early stage. Yue Lei, the attending physician of the Department of Orthopedics at Peking University First Hospital, recommends parents to use the "four self-assessment actions" to test whether their children have spinal abnormalities: first, have the child's heels close, legs extended, arms naturally hanging down, eyes looking straight ahead, and observe whether the child's shoulders are symmetrical and whether the shoulders are one high and one low; The second is to have the child bend down 90 degrees and observe if there is a noticeable bulge on one side of their back; Thirdly, check if the child's pelvis is skewed, if both hips are level, and if one side is high and the other is low; Fourthly, let the child stand against the wall and check if their spine deviates from the midline. Once suspicious signs are detected, it is necessary to promptly go to the hospital for further screening and evaluation. It is understood that China attaches great importance to the prevention and control of scoliosis. The General Administration of Sport of China has launched a special activity on adolescent spine and vision health nationwide; The National Health Commission has released guidelines for the prevention and control of spinal curvature abnormalities, proposing to include screening for spinal curvature abnormalities in the annual or new student enrollment physical examination content. Actively respond and practice in multiple places, and adjust prevention and intervention strategies in a targeted manner. For example, Beijing has established a three-level evaluation index system for physical and mental health at the city, district, and school levels, and proposed evaluation indicators for scoliosis and other aspects based on the changing trend of student health data; Yunnan conducts public welfare lectures on adolescent scoliosis to promote scientific fitness services and scientific knowledge to grassroots level; The Health Bureau of Xinhe County, Hebei Province organized medical personnel to enter the campus and carry out student health screening activities including scoliosis screening... Early classification and treatment are carried out to let the "bent seedlings" grow in the sun. Hu Ming emphasized that timely intervention and systematic treatment are crucial for patients with scoliosis. Establishing a "screening diagnosis treatment" full cycle health management loop is the key to improving prevention and treatment effectiveness. If a suspected case of scoliosis with a Cobb angle greater than or equal to 10 degrees is found during school physical examination screening, it should be immediately reported to the school and parents should be notified, while assisting in contacting professional medical institutions for diagnosis and treatment. Medical institutions should start treatment as soon as possible based on the classification after diagnosis, seize the best opportunity, and avoid delaying the condition. The treatment of scoliosis requires individualized treatment based on the child's age, bending angle, and progression rate. ”Sun Haolin said that children with a Cobb angle of less than 20 degrees and close to complete bone development can undergo regular check ups; Children with a Cobb angle between 20 and 40 degrees and still in the growth and development stage should wear braces to suppress the progression of scoliosis and cooperate with rehabilitation training; If the Cobb angle of scoliosis exceeds 40 degrees or conservative treatment is ineffective, and there is obvious appearance and functional impairment, it is recommended to undergo spinal orthopedic surgery. According to Wei Xu, an expert in orthopedics at Wangjing Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, adolescent scoliosis belongs to the category of "musculoskeletal disorders" in traditional Chinese medicine, which is similar to descriptions such as "hunchback" and "turtle back" recorded in ancient literature. Diseases can occur due to congenital deficiencies, acquired spleen and stomach deficiency, and injuries caused by fatigue, leading to muscle and bone imbalances. The key to this disease lies in the combination of prevention and treatment. Appropriate techniques such as traditional Chinese medicine techniques, traditional martial arts, oral Chinese medicine, acupuncture therapy, and moxibustion therapy can play an important role in the treatment and rehabilitation of adolescent scoliosis. ”Wei Xu said that the team will organize clinical research on traditional Chinese medicine for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis under the support of national key research and development programs led by Academician Zhu Liguo of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Several interviewed experts suggested that a provincial-level spinal health management center should be established to integrate resources from orthopedics, rehabilitation, traditional Chinese medicine, psychology and other departments to provide personalized treatment plans for patients. At the same time, establish a three-dimensional prevention and control network to help more teenagers straighten their backs. (New Society)