1. Gravity acting upon a growing spine which is not straight can produce structural scoliosis due to pressure-arrest of epiphyseal growth.
2. The early recognition and treatment of functional curvatures is therefore of primary importance in the prophylaxis of structural scoliosis.
3. Certain common types of functional curvatures can be corrected by tilting the pelvis by shoe and buttock lifts, thus preventing progression into structural scoliosis.