By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH – Children suffering from scoliosis, or a curved spine, may experience chronic back pain in adulthood if not treated from an early age.
This concern was shared by the Chief Executive Officer of Perak Community Specialist Hospital (PCSH), Nicholas Chan, who stated that studies have shown that scoliosis affects 2-3% of the population, which is approximately between 600,000 to 900,000 individuals, primarily teenagers in Malaysia.
“A lifestyle that lacks physical activities, especially among children, carries a high risk of experiencing scoliosis-related issues.
“Scoliosis, when left untreated, can worsen rapidly during adolescence, eventually leading to chronic back pain in adulthood.
“Parents can now conduct examinations and identify any signs and symptoms of scoliosis in their children at home. The earlier it is detected, the higher the chances of preventing this condition among their children,” he said in a statement today.
Recently, the Quality & Clinical Services Division of PCSH organized a lecture on scoliosis by health experts, offering free scoliosis screening and assessment for children aged between 6-18. Posture and balance tests were also conducted.
The lecture was delivered by Dr. John J. Anantham, Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at PCSH, and Sashira Sabanayagam, Early Physiotherapy Management for Scoliosis, who also serves as the Head of the Senior Physiotherapy Unit.
A total of 73 participants, including parents and children, attended the lecture session, along with the hospital’s community partners such as insurance agents, medical professionals, and corporate associates.
