Scoliosis Isn’t Just a “Kids Condition”: The Hidden Adult Epidemic—and the New Non-Surgical Treatments That Actually Work

Scoliosis affects far more adults than most people realize. Dr. Jeb McAvinery explains adult-onset scoliosis, degenerative curves, modern 3D bracing, scoliosis-specific exercises, when surgery matters, and how to manage pain, posture, and progression for lifelong spine health.

Scoliosis is often treated like a childhood diagnosis—something found in middle school, managed with a brace, then forgotten. But what if the real scoliosis epidemic isn’t happening in kids… it’s happening in adults? And what if the difference between “manageable” and “surgical” comes down to timing, technology, and the right rehab strategy?

In this episode of the Crackin’ Backs Podcast, Dr. Jeb McAvinery pulls scoliosis out of the pediatric box and into the modern reality of longevity, performance, and aging well—where spine alignment, stability, and movement quality determine how long you stay active.
 

Meet Dr. Jeb McAvinery: The Scoliosis Clinician Challenging the Old Narrative

Dr. Jeb McAvinery is a chiropractor, researcher, and scoliosis specialist known for bridging clinical care with real-world outcomes. He works closely with orthopedic surgeons, builds systems that improve scoliosis screening and compliance, and has been at the front edge of tech-driven bracing and rehabilitation.

His message is direct: 

Not all scoliosis treatments work—yet modern, evidence-based, non-surgical scoliosis care has evolved dramatically.

And it’s personal.

He shares that his partner developed traumatic scoliosis after a car accident, including a spinal fracture—putting her in the category of acquired adult scoliosis. That experience reinforced what the research shows: scoliosis is not just something that “happens to kids.” It’s increasingly a spine health and longevity issue for adults.

5 Key Insights From This Episode

1) Adult scoliosis is more common than most clinicians realize

Here’s the jaw-dropper: Dr. McAvinery cites a systematic review showing 36.7% of adults over 60 have degenerative de novo (adult-onset) scoliosis. That’s essentially one in three. Not “one in three adults over 60 with back pain”—one in three adults over 60, period.

If you care about healthy aging, mobility, posture, back pain, and staying active, this matters.

2) There’s a difference between adolescent scoliosis and adult-onset scoliosis

Yes, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis commonly develops around ages 11–13, and it’s the most common type in children. But adults increasingly develop scoliosis through degeneration, instability, and asymmetrical wear patterns—what’s often called degenerative scoliosis or de novo scoliosis.

Translation: as people live longer and want more “healthspan,” scoliosis becomes part of the conversation about spine longevity.

3) The “Three P’s” change everything: Pain, Posture, Progression

Dr. Jeb explains something most patients feel in their bones: the X-ray may be what the doctor understands, but the patient lives in the mirror.

Many people come in because of:

• Pain (back pain, fatigue, flare-ups, nerve symptoms)
• Posture/Cosmesis (shoulders uneven, waist shift, hips unlevel, clothing falls crooked)
• Progression fear (worrying the curve is getting worse)

Great scoliosis care matches treatment to the patient’s real goal—not just the image.

4) Non-surgical scoliosis treatment works—when it’s specific

The controversy isn’t about whether exercise or bracing can work. It’s that not all approaches work equally.

What has changed:

• Scoliosis-specific exercises (often called PSSE) now show strong benefit when applied correctly—especially early in adolescence and with smaller curves.
• Bracing has shifted from old, bulky designs to 3D bracing using 3D scanning and modern corrective forces, improving precision and outcomes.

The key is specificity, compliance, and timing—just like any performance rehab plan.

5) The window of opportunity is real—and delay can cost you

One of the hardest truths Dr. Jeb wishes more parents, coaches, and clinicians understood: scoliosis has a limited window where treatment is easiest and most effective.

If a curve goes from 30 degrees to 60 degrees, your options change dramatically—often shifting toward surgical conversations. Early expert evaluation isn’t fear-based. It’s strategic.

Why This Conversation Matters Now

We’re in an era where people aren’t just trying to “live longer”—they’re trying to stay strong, mobile, and pain-free for decades. That means scoliosis is no longer a niche diagnosis. It’s part of the bigger picture of:

• back pain relief
• posture correction
• core stability and spinal mechanics
• degenerative spine conditions
• menopause and musculoskeletal aging
• sports performance and movement longevity
• non-surgical spine care

Dr. Jeb points out an important trend: adult-onset scoliosis is more common in women around menopause, likely due to changes in ligament stability, muscle strength, and spinal support. Later in life, prevalence becomes more even between men and women.

If you work with active adults—golfers, runners, pickleball players, former athletes, busy professionals, aging warriors—this is not a rare issue. It’s a common one that often goes undetected until pain, posture changes, or instability show up.

What You’ll Learn

This episode is a masterclass in scoliosis, spine health, and evidence-based rehab. You’ll learn:
​​​​​​​

• Why scoliosis is often more prevalent in adults than children
• The difference between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and degenerative adult scoliosis
• What PSSE (scoliosis-specific exercises) are and why “generic rehab” often misses the mark
• How 3D scanning technology changed bracing outcomes
• When bracing can stabilize posture, improve function, and reduce pain in adults
• The real truth about surgery: why good surgeons see it as the failure of non-surgical care, but also why waiting too long can worsen outcomes
• How to communicate scoliosis without catastrophizing—while still respecting the urgency of early intervention
• Why “postural scoliosis” can mimic true scoliosis in kids—and how to avoid false reassurance
• The nuanced relationship between leg length inequality, sacral obliquity, and lumbar curves—and why the right imaging matters

Scoliosis is humbling—because it forces clinicians to stop selling miracles and start delivering strategy: the right treatment, at the right time, for the right patient goal.

And for patients? It’s empowering to learn that scoliosis isn’t a life sentence. It’s a condition that can be managed intelligently across the lifespan—without fear, without dogma, and without outdated thinking.

For the full story and unfiltered conversation, LISTEN/WATCH the Crackin’ Backs Podcast.