A Free App Can Help Detect Signs of Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that shows up most often during adolescent growth spurts. Left undetected or untreated, scoliosis can lead to serious health problems. Parents should make sure their kids are screened for scoliosis yearly. Shriners Hospitals for Children® is making scoliosis screening easy and quick with a new app called SpineScreen. Doctors at Shriners Hospitals collaborated with developers to create the free app, which enables parents to use a smartphone to do a preliminary spine check in just five minutes. The app measures abnormal curves when the phone is moved along a child’s spine, setting reminders for future checks.