June is Scoliosis Awareness Month— the perfect time for the Spine Group Beverly Hills team to raise awareness about a condition that affects about nine million Americans.
At first glance, scoliosis and poor posture can look very similar. You may notice uneven shoulders, a tilted head, or a curved spine. But while they may appear alike, scoliosis and poor posture are very different in terms of their cause and their treatment.
Take a moment as Dr. John Regan explains the difference between scoliosis and poor posture.
Scoliosis is a medical condition in which the spine curves sideways in an “S” or “C” shape. It’s often diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, but adults can develop it as well—especially due to degenerative changes in the spine. Still, about 80% of all scoliosis cases are idiopathic — without any known cause.
Common signs of scoliosis include:
You might notice that your purse or backup straps always slip off one shoulder from uneven shoulders.
Scoliosis may be mild and require only monitoring, or it can be more severe and need bracing or surgery. Dr. Regan confirms the severity of your scoliosis using the Cobb angle on an X-ray. A curve of 10 to 25 degrees is considered mild, 25 to 40 degrees is moderate, and anything over 40 degrees is classified as severe.
Dr. Regan creates a scoliosis treatment based on the degree of curvature, age, symptoms, and risk of progression.
For mild cases, Dr. Regan may recommend monitoring or wearing a brace. If surgery is necessary, he uses advanced, minimally invasive techniques such as spinal fusion with a coflex® device or adjustable spinal rods for growing children to correct curvature and prevent further complications.
Poor posture, on the other hand, is a muscular imbalance often caused by slouching, sitting for long periods, or repetitive motions. It doesn’t change the structure of your spine itself but can lead to discomfort, neck and back pain, and muscle fatigue.
Signs of poor posture include:
Poor posture isn’t just what you look like — it can cause physical pain! For example, craning over your phone can lead to a type of poor posture called “tech neck.” Bending like this can add 60 pounds of pressure on your neck, so if you have neck pain, your posture could be to blame.
Poor posture can also cause back pain, headaches, shoulder tension, heartburn, and even incontinence.
Fortunately, poor posture can often be improved with lifestyle changes, exercises, and ergonomic support.
Remember that good posture can apply to how you sit, stand, walk, and even lie down.
Not sure what’s causing your pain? Dr. Regan can recommend treatments for neck and back pain, whether or not it’s related to poor posture.
The main difference lies in structure versus habit. Scoliosis is a spinal deformity, while poor posture is a behavioral pattern.
Scoliosis won’t go away with posture correction — it requires medical evaluation and often long-term monitoring or intervention. In contrast, poor posture typically improves with physical therapy, strengthening exercises, and conscious correction.
If you or your child have persistent back pain, uneven shoulders, or a visible curve in the spine, it’s important to get evaluated. Don’t assume it’s “just bad posture”, especially during Scoliosis Awareness Month.
You can reach Dr. Regan at 424-238-3281, or you can schedule an appointment through our online scheduling tool.
