CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- To mark June as National Scoliosis Awareness Month, a UVA Health Children's Hospital doctor spoke to a group about the disability to bring attention to it.

Scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine. According to experts, everyone has normal curves in the spine, and when looked at from behind, the spine appears straight.

But children with scoliosis have an abnormal S-shaped or C-shaped curve of the spine. In most people, the cause of scoliosis is unknown.

Dr. Keith Bachmann, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at UVA Health Children's Hospital, discussed what treatments are available and described how parents can know if their child needs to be evaluated.

"The vast majority will have mild cases that may not even need treatment other than knowing that it is present and observing to ensure that it does not progress to a point where there are any potential health impacts," he said.

He says early diagnosis is helpful so patients can get to a specialist sooner than later.