Have you ever heard, "SIT UP STRAIGHT!"

Have you ever heard, “SIT UP STRAIGHT!”

By: Alexandra Bogner

Constantly as teens we are being told to sit up, and fix our posture by adults. And we usually quickly respond to their demands. Then, they give us a somewhat satisfied look and turn away, and as soon as they are no longer looking, we slouch again. Why? Why do we teens disregard this. Well, because we really don’t care. That is until you go to your doctor’s and they tell you, that you have scoliosis. Maybe, you will be a lucky one who has a minor spinal curve, that is right. A curve in your spine, in a C or an S shape. Shown below on the left.

       Scoliosis Normal Spine

(Curved spine in        (The far right and left

 in a S shape.               spines are the front

 This curve is                and back view of a

 probably a                  normal human spine)

 Medium curve)           

Scoliosis is a disease most commonly found in adolescents. Especially in teenage girls, but both genders are at risk. A shocking number of people have a form of scoliosis, around three in 100. That would be around 30 students in our school with a form of scoliosis, and around seven to eight per grade. The good thing is, many of these people with this disease won’t even have a problem with it because the curve is minor. However, curves can become severe enough where it is visible from the outside. These people may have to go through surgery, or they will have to wear a brace for years!   Doctors do not know the actual cause for scoliosis. They do know that bad posture is quite possibly linked to scoliosis and that it is a hereditary disease.  So if someone in your family has it, you are likely to have this disease eventually also. Even if no one has scoliosis in your family do listen to those adults. And Sit Up Straight!