Do you remember being in elementary and middle school? Sometimes shopping for clothing seemed like a nightmare – your body was never proportioned right. Either your arms were too long for your shirts, your legs were too short for the pants in your size, or your feet looked like boats in comparison to the rest of your body. You were a typical awkward kid. But at what point does normal pubescent awkwardness turn serious?

Scoliosis most commonly affects girls, ages 10 to 16, and is often linked to genetics. Although the condition is only found in two percent of women and less than one percent of men, many junior high schools find the problem worrisome enough to do yearly scoliosis checks on their students, typically performed by school nurses and gym teachers. However, parents should be sure to also stay involved in their children’s development.

How can you tell if your child has signs of scoliosis, or is just going through an awkward teen phase? According to Thomas Bergmann, DC, professor at Northwestern Health Sciences University, there are a few things to check for:

• Look at their shoulder height. Are the shoulders level? “Ten to 16-year-old females shouldn’t be asymmetrical,” Dr. Bergmann says.
• Is your daughter wearing skirts? The hem should be even the entire way around.
• What about pants? The bottoms of both pant legs should reach the same point.
• Look at chest symmetry. If your child’s ribs are more prominent on one side of their back, there could potentially be a problem.
• Check out the spine. Depending on your child’s tissue distribution, you may be able to see the pattern of their spine; if not, you may have to feel for it. If you can see or feel any curvature, it is another sign of an abnormality.

There are many different things that can cause scoliosis. Neuromuscular diseases, uneven leg-length, trauma, and uneven vertebra growth may all lead to scoliosis, according to Dr. Bergmann. However, notes Dr. Bergmann, “The main cause is unknown, and is referred to as idiopathic scoliosis. Currently it is believed that there may be some kind of genetic link.” But just because a person has a genetic predisposition to scoliosis, doesn’t mean they will get it. “If it isn’t triggered, there might not be any problems. Identification is key. After it is identified, progression needs to be monitored,” adds Dr. Bergmann.

Often times, diagnosed scoliosis doesn’t come with any discomfort or damage. According to Dr. Bergmann, “A curve of less than 10° is not true idiopathic scoliosis, and many of those curves don’t progress. Any curve above 20° needs to be monitored.” Even if there is no progression in diagnosed scoliosis, it should still be monitored if there is any major trauma. “Being in an accident where a person is jarred laterally can cause progression to begin,” notes Dr. Bergmann.

Remember: Early diagnosis is key. Keep an eye on your child’s development and contact your doctor if anything seems abnormal.