Jeffrey Winzant

Scoliosis is often associated with teenagers, yet many adults also live with spinal curves that affect posture, mobility, and daily comfort. In adults, scoliosis refers to an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine that either began in adolescence and progressed later in life or developed for the first time due to degenerative changes in the spine.

Although the definition may sound straightforward, scoliosis is highly individual. Two people with the same curve angle can experience very different levels of pain, stiffness, or limitation in daily activities.

Living with scoliosis as an adult can influence far more than spinal alignment. It may affect energy levels, walking endurance, balance, and confidence in movement. Some adults discover a curve incidentally through imaging for another concern, while others have long been aware of a diagnosis that changes with age. Understanding scoliosis in adulthood is important because curve progression, spinal degeneration, and related complications often look different than in adolescence.

Prevalence estimates vary, but research suggests that some degree of scoliosis may be present in up to one-third of adults over age 60. Not all of these cases require treatment. For some, scoliosis remains stable and manageable with exercise, ergonomic adjustments, and occasional medical follow-up. For others, symptoms such as back pain, nerve irritation, or reduced lung function may emerge, requiring closer monitoring and, in some cases, advanced interventions.

This guide is designed to provide adults living with scoliosis—and their families—with a comprehensive, evidence-based overview of what scoliosis is, how it develops, and how it can be managed at different stages of life. You will find practical sections on:

Curve types and progression risks

How scoliosis is diagnosed and monitored

Treatment options ranging from conservative strategies to surgical approaches

Safe exercises and movement therapy

Daily living adjustments and ergonomics

Nutrition and lifestyle factors that may support spine and muscle health

Complementary therapies and what the evidence says about them

Personal planning tools and patient stories for realistic insight 

This is not a manual for curing scoliosis. No treatment currently “reverses” spinal curvature in adults. Instead, management focuses on reducing symptoms, supporting function, and maintaining quality of life. Each chapter emphasizes safe, practical approaches backed by clinical consensus and research, while also noting where evidence is still emerging.

Equally important, this guide acknowledges the human side of scoliosis. Beyond X-rays and angles, scoliosis shapes how people feel about their bodies, their independence, and their confidence in daily life. Strategies for self-management, emotional resilience, and realistic decision-making are woven throughout the content.

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