Future Research

There has been a recent explosion in the amount of research that is done on scoliosis, both basic science and research into the cause of scoliosis and the clinical treatment. Scientific advances have brought about improved treatment options for scoliosis, including braceless care, and as research continues new technologies should continue to emerge.

Researchers also seek to learn more about the basic molecular, hereditary and foundational roots of scoliosis. Future medical breakthroughs in scoliosis treatment may allow for early hereditary diagnosis and biopharmaceutical therapy of the development abnormalities that cause curvature of the spine. Researchers hope to soon eliminate the need of implanting metallic hardware in individuals' bodies to correct their curves with these new genetic diagnosing capabilities.

Scientists are still hopeful that studying changes in the central nervous system in people with idiopathic scoliosis may reveal a cause of this disorder.

Researchers continue to examine how a variety of braces, surgical procedures and surgical instruments can be used to straighten the spine or prevent further curvature. They are also studying the long-term effects of scoliosis fusion and of untreated scoliosis.