Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve sideways. There are several different types of scoliosis that affect children and adolescents. By far, the most common type is "idiopathic," which means the exact cause is not known.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder that affects a child's ability to control his or her muscles. It is caused by damage or abnormalities in the parts of the brain that are involved with movement and coordination. In most cases, cerebral palsy begins before a baby is born.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Growth plates are areas of cartilage at the ends of the body’s long bones. Because the growth plates are the last portion of a child’s bones to harden (ossify), they are particularly vulnerable to fracture.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Toe walking is a pattern of walking in which a child walks on balls of his or her feet, with no contact between the heels and ground. Toe walking is common in children who are learning to walk. After the age of 2, however, most children will outgrow toe walking.| orthoinfo.aaos.org