Scoliosis has traditionally been believed
to be a genetic condition that an individual is predisposed to before birth. According
to this belief, if you have the misfortune of developing scoliosis, then it was
written into your DNA and there is nothing you or any doctor can do about it.
However, the emerging
field of epigenetics suggests that we are not solely a product of our heredity.
Recent studies have shown the connection between genetic diseases like
scoliosis, and environmental influences. It is now coming to light that we can
directly affect the development of our genes through our lifestyle choices. For
many people, this puts control of their heath back into their own hands. Epigenetics
tells us that by making good choices about what we expose our body to, we can
fight the genetic predispositions that seemed previously set in stone.
