Despite extensive research, the exact cause of JIS remains elusive. As we mentioned earlier, the very word idiopathic means arising spontaneously or cause unknown. (It’s a mash-up of two Greek words: “idios” meaning “one’s own” or “peculiar” and “pathos” meaning “suffering” or “disease.” The word scoliosis comes from the Greek word for “crooked” by the way.) However, JIS is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Genetics play a crucial role, with a higher likelihood of scoliosis if a family member has had it. Other potential factors include abnormalities in the neuromuscular system and hormonal imbalances during growth spurts.