What it means
A sideways curve that disappears on sitting or when the leg length is equalised.
Where it comes from
The spine's response to a tilted pelvis or muscle spasm, not a structural change.
How it is measured
It is measured on the back view, in the coronal plane. The defining measurement is Sideways curve of the spine (Cobb angle), and it is reported as a finding from above 10°. The number is computed from landmarks on that photograph — not estimated by eye, and not compared against a stock example.
What the numbers mean
| Measurement | Grade |
|---|---|
| up to 10° | No scoliosis |
| 10–25° | Mild |
| 25–40° | Moderate |
| 40° and above | Severe |
Source of the bands: Surface curve magnitude, SRS bands; the functional/structural split is from the pelvic reading, not the curve
What is usually seen alongside it
- One hip higher (Pelvic obliquity) — above 4°
- One shoulder higher (Acromial tilt) — above 2°
None of these is a diagnosis on its own. Together they corroborate the finding; apart, they do not refute it — a measurement nobody took counts neither for nor against.
What confirms it
If the curve disappears on sitting or once the leg lengths are equalised, it is functional. A tape measurement from the ASIS to the medial malleolus settles it.
Every number on this page is measured on the skin surface in a photograph. That is not the same as a measurement taken on a radiograph: it correlates with one and does not replace it. Wherever the decision depends on imaging, this page and the report itself say so.
What happens at the clinic
The assessment starts with three standing photographs — front, side and back. Every angle is measured on those photographs, the report prints the number and the grade for each, and the exercise programme is built from those numbers rather than from a template. Posture analysis explains the whole path, and the online assessment can be started from your own photograph now.
Frequently asked questions
At what point is functional scoliosis reported?
When sideways curve of the spine (cobb angle) is above 10°, it is reported as a finding. That is where the "Mild" band begins. The bands come from: Surface curve magnitude, SRS bands; the functional/structural split is from the pelvic reading, not the curve
Can functional scoliosis be assessed from a photograph?
A photograph gives a number, which most assessments do not have. But it is a surface measurement and it does not replace imaging. If the curve disappears on sitting or once the leg lengths are equalised, it is functional. A tape measurement from the ASIS to the medial malleolus settles it.
What is the most severe grade?
The worst band in this table is "Severe". The grade is printed beside the measurement itself in the report, so it is always clear which number produced the word.