The most common causes of non-idiopathic scoliosis are birth defects and other genetic conditions, neuromuscular problems, and leg-length disparity. Scoliosis can also be caused by disease conditions, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and tumors, all of which require prompt medical attention. Although conventional medicine claims there are no known causes of idiopathic scoliosis, alternative health practitioners disagree. From the perspective of alternative medicine, idiopathic scoliosis is primarily caused by misalignments of the spine (known as subluxations, according to chiropractic theory) and/or stagnation in the body`s flow of vital energy.

Subluxations cause pressure to be exerted on the nerves that pass through the spine. Over time, this nerve pressure can cause muscles along the spine to tighten and contract along one side of the spine, while corresponding muscles along the opposite of the spine weaken. This causes the vertebrae of the spine to be pulled in the direction of the contracting spine, causing scoliosis.

Stagnation of the body`s vital energy, known as qi by practitioners of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, can also cause spinal muscles to tighten and contract, pulling the vertebrae out of alignment and causing the spine to become curved.

Finally, one of the most common causes of idiopathic scoliosis, especially in teenagers and adults, is habitual posture, both while sitting and standing. As your poor posture habits become more pronounced, your body is forced to compensate. This compensation process can also cause muscle contraction and lead to scoliosis.