Scheuermann's Disease is a spinal (skeletal) disease that typically presents itself in children during adolescence.  It is often noted by an accentuated curvature, or "hunched back" and if left untreated, may lead to significant health complications later in life. Studies suggest that about 2% of the population is affected by this disease. 

 

For the worst sufferers of Scheuermann’s Disease, the effects may include rapid acceleration of degenerative disc disease, a sedentary lifestyle as a result of radiating spinal pain, multiple surgeries to correct spinal and body deformities, debilitating lower back pain, erosive spinal osteoarthritis, significant mental stress associated with chronic pain, and severe depression and anxiety.

 

Scheuermann’s Disease, or Scheuermann’s Kyphosis as it is sometimes called, is believed to be caused by abnormal bone growth in the vertebrae, potentially by an interruption of blood flow. This happens most often during a growth spurt during adolescence that causes the vertebrae to change from a healthy rectangular shape to triangular wedge shapes.

 

The Scheuermann’s Disease Fund was created to improve the public's awareness and recognition of this spinal deformity, improve early detection in adolescents, and to work with the medical community to better understand the long-term secondary effects Scheuermann's can cause.