Scoliosis

Most often this condition has no known cause, in which case it is called idiopathic scoliosis.

While the cause is unknown, idiopathic scoliosis does tend to run in families. The specific genes involved have not all been identified yet, and there could be factors beyond genetics as well.1

Some people mistakenly think that carrying heavy book bags or sleeping on the side could cause scoliosis, but that is not the case.