A method for the prevention or treatment of scoliosis in a human subject comprising: (a)(i) measuring osteopontin (OPN) protein expression in a biological fluid sample from the subject over time； or (ii) measuring osteopontin (OPN) protein expression in a biological fluid sample from the subject and comparing the OPN protein expression to an OPN protein expression in a control biological fluid sample； (b) identifying the subject as being at risk of developing scoliosis when OPN protein expression increases in the subject sample over time； or when OPN protein expression is higher in the subject sample than that in the control sample； and (c) reducing OPN protein levels in the subject identified as being at risk of developing a scoliosis, thereby aiding in the prevention or treatment of scoliosis.
