Many people have spinal bones that are bent sideways, a condition called scoliosis. This causes the torso to become crooked, muscle and bone pain to become a constant companion, and problems to arise in moving, sitting, and even lying down smoothly. Yet treatment exists for this condition, but awareness remains low.
The possibility of early detection of this spinal deformity, or Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), in childhood or adolescence was highlighted at the ‘Upright 2026’ event organised by the Spine Research Foundation (SRF). According to experts, school-based health screening is essential for early diagnosis.
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Silent condition, widespread impact
At an event held at Rotary Sadan in Kolkata on Saturday, special emphasis was placed on raising awareness about scoliosis in the presence of doctors, educators, and school administration representatives. According to experts, approximately 1–2 per cent of adolescents aged 10 to 19 suffer from this problem.
Since the disease is mostly painless in its early stages, it often escapes parents’ attention. As a result, the condition deteriorates before physical deformity becomes clearly visible to the naked eye.
School screening shows results, experts warn against delay
In this context, SRF’s school-screening programme has achieved notable success, as announced at the event. After examining around 4,000 students from various schools in Kolkata, possible symptoms of scoliosis were identified in 54 students. Arrangements have already been made for their detailed examinations and full spine X-rays.
At the event, doctors warned about the risks of a “wait and watch” mentality. According to them, if treatment is not started on time, spinal deformity can become permanent and complex surgery may be required. School administration representatives stated that if awareness increases among teachers and parents, further expansion of such screening programmes is possible.
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The event also addressed common misconceptions about scoliosis and honoured the winners of the inter-school essay and poster competition titled ‘Healthy Spine, Healthy Life’. It was announced that over the past 17 years, SRF has borne the cost of approximately 400 complex spinal surgeries for financially disadvantaged patients.
