What Causes Scoliosis in Adults?

Many adults find themselves asking, “What causes scoliosis in adults?” – and the answer might surprise you. Understanding what causes adult scoliosis is the first step toward taking control of your spinal health and getting back to the active life you deserve.

Understanding Adult Scoliosis: More Than Just a “Curved Spine”

Let’s start with the basics. Scoliosis isn’t just a “crooked spine” – it’s a three-dimensional curvature that can affect your entire body. Think of your spine like the central pillar of a house. When that pillar starts to curve or twist, it impacts everything else.

We typically see two main types of adult scoliosis. First, there’s the kind that carries over from teenage years – what we call adolescent idiopathic scoliosis that persists into adulthood. Then there’s adult-onset scoliosis, which develops later in life due to various factors we’ll explore.

Here’s something many people don’t realize: yes, you absolutely can develop scoliosis later in life. Your spine isn’t set in stone after adolescence. Life has a way of putting stress on our bodies, and sometimes that stress shows up as spinal curvature.

The impact goes beyond just appearance. Adult scoliosis can affect your posture, limit your mobility, and significantly impact your quality of life. But here’s the encouraging part – understanding the cause often points us toward the solution.

Main Causes of Adult Scoliosis

1. Idiopathic Scoliosis in Adults: The Teenage Years Catch Up

Sometimes, scoliosis that seemed “stable” during the teenage years decides to make a comeback. According to research by Dr. Lawrence Lenke at Washington University, approximately 68% of adolescent idiopathic curves can progress in adulthood, especially in women.

Why does this happen? Think of it like this: gravity never takes a day off. Over decades, constant gravitational pull, combined with lifestyle factors and natural spinal stress, can cause those old curves to worsen. It’s not your fault – it’s simply physics meeting biology.

2. Degenerative (De Novo) Scoliosis: When Wear and Tear Takes Its Toll

This is the most common type of adult scoliosis causes we see in our practice. As we age, our spines undergo natural wear and tear – much like how a favorite pair of shoes eventually wears unevenly.

Dr. Frank Schwab’s research published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery shows that degenerative scoliosis typically develops after age 50. The process involves:

• Arthritis breaking down the small joints in your spine
• Discs losing height and cushioning ability
• Spinal stenosis creating instability

When one side of your spine degenerates faster than the other, curvature develops. It’s like having one leg of a table shorter than the others – everything starts to lean.

3. Osteoporosis-Related Scoliosis: The Silent Curve Creator

Here’s where things get particularly concerning for women over 50. Osteoporosis doesn’t just make bones fragile – it can actually create scoliosis through a domino effect of vertebral fractures.

Research from Dr. Munehito Yoshida demonstrates that osteoporotic vertebral fractures often occur asymmetrically. When one side of a vertebra collapses more than the other, it creates a wedge shape that contributes to spinal curvature.

Women are especially at risk because:

• Hormonal changes during menopause accelerate bone loss
• Smaller bone structure provides less structural support
• Earlier onset of osteoporosis compounds the problem

4. Trauma and Spinal Injury: When Life Throws You a Curve Ball

Sometimes scoliosis develops after a specific incident – a car accident, a bad fall, or even a sports injury from years ago. These traumatic events can create:

• Vertebral fractures that heal improperly
• Muscle imbalances that pull the spine out of alignment
• Scar tissue that restricts normal spinal movement

What’s tricky about trauma-related scoliosis is that it might not show up immediately. The initial injury might seem to heal, but years later, compensation patterns and scar tissue can lead to progressive curvature.

5. Neuromuscular Conditions: When the Body’s Control System Falters

Conditions like Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy can lead to degenerative scoliosis in adults through a different pathway. These conditions affect the nervous system’s ability to maintain proper muscle balance and postural control.

Dr. Paul Sponseller’s research at Johns Hopkins shows that neuromuscular scoliosis in adults often progresses more rapidly than other types because the underlying neurological condition continues to worsen over time.

6. Post-Surgical Changes: The Unintended Consequences

Ironically, sometimes spinal surgery intended to help one problem can create another. This happens when:

• Spinal fusion creates stiffness that transfers stress to adjacent levels
• Hardware failure leads to instability
• The natural balance of the spine is disrupted

We call this “adjacent segment disease,” and it’s more common than many people realize.

7. Lifestyle and Postural Factors: The Modern Epidemic

While lifestyle factors rarely cause scoliosis on their own, they certainly accelerate progression. In our digital age, we see more adults with:

• Forward head posture from computer work
• Rounded shoulders from prolonged sitting
• Weak core muscles from sedentary lifestyles
• Poor ergonomic setups that create muscle imbalances

These factors don’t directly answer “what causes scoliosis in adults,” but they definitely make existing curves worse.

Non-Surgical Solutions: Hope Without the Operating Room

Here’s where we get excited. How to treat scoliosis without surgery in adults is not only possible – it’s often highly effective when you use the right approach.

Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®): Precision Correction

At Chiropractic First, we specialize in CBP®, which is like GPS for your spine. Unlike traditional chiropractic care that focuses on short-term pain relief, CBP® addresses the underlying postural problems causing your scoliosis.

Research by Dr. Deed Harrison shows that CBP® can achieve lasting postural improvements through:

• Specific spinal adjustments based on your unique curve pattern
• Targeted exercises that retrain your postural muscles
• Traction protocols that gradually reshape spinal curvature

The difference is remarkable. Instead of just feeling better temporarily, you actually start standing straighter and moving better.

See more: Treating Scoliosis with Chiropractic Care: Early Intervention and Ongoing Management

ScoliBrace® for Adults: 21st Century Bracing

Forget everything you think you know about back braces. ScoliBrace® uses 3D scanning and computer modeling to create a custom brace that actually improves your posture while you wear it.

Unlike traditional rigid braces, ScoliBrace® is designed for:

• Comfort during daily activities
• Gradual curve improvement over time
• Better posture and reduced pain

Dr. Manuel Rigo’s research in Barcelona demonstrates that properly fitted 3D braces can achieve curve improvements in adults, something previously thought impossible.

The Power of Targeted Exercise

Not all exercises are created equal when it comes to scoliosis. Research by Dr. Michele Romano shows that scoliosis-specific exercises can:

• Reduce pain by 40-60%
• Improve postural balance
• Slow curve progression
• Enhance quality of life

The key is working with professionals who understand the three-dimensional nature of scoliosis and can design exercises specific to your curve pattern.

Taking Control of Your Spinal Health

Understanding what causes scoliosis in adults empowers you to take action. Whether your scoliosis developed from adolescence, degenerative changes, osteoporosis, trauma, or other factors, effective non-surgical options exist.

At Chiropractic First in Redding, California, we’ve helped hundreds of adults reclaim their lives from scoliosis using CBP® and ScoliBrace®. The combination of precise spinal correction and custom bracing often produces results that amaze both patients and their families.

Ready to take the next step? Contact Chiropractic First today to schedule your comprehensive scoliosis evaluation.