Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, which may be treated with the use of a back brace, surgery, or with scoliosis exercises. Persons with scoliosis have an abnormal bending of the spine; it may curve sideways, or away from the middle. However, the method of treatment will depend on the cause and severity of the curvature, as well as the age of the patient. Scoliosis can affect children as well as adults, but it may also be present at birth (this is known as congenital scoliosis).
What Causes Scoliosis?
The causes of scoliosis are varied. When present in newborns, it usually the result of the improper formation of the bones of the spine, during the early stages of development. Scoliosis may also be caused by weak muscles, due to an existing condition such as cerebral palsy, polio, spina bifidia, or muscular dystrophy. There are also cases of scoliosis for which the cause is not known; this is referred to as idiopathic scoliosis. In addition, there are some cases of scoliosis that are temporary in nature, and the curvature of the spine may be the result of muscle spasms, or a similar complaint.
Scoliosis Exercises – are they for everyone?
Scoliosis is often characterized by the uneven appearance of the shoulders and hips. In order to be beneficial, scoliosis exercises should be designed to meet the specific spinal curvature of the person affected. Remember we noted at the outset that the exercises should be determined by the cause of the scoliosis. Additionally, the scoliosis exercises should also depend on the extent of the curvature. There are exercises that can be done which are able to correct the condition, and there are also others that are able to prevent it from progressing further. It is recommended that you consult with your physician, to decide which exercises would be best for you.
Benefits of Scoliosis Exercises
Scoliosis exercises are designed to strengthen and straighten the spine. In order to accomplish this, the exercises generally focus on the muscles of the upper and lower back, shoulders, and abdomen. The intent is to make these areas strong and flexible. The abdominal exercises strengthen the muscles of the stomach and the back. This helps to improve posture, and relieve pressure on the spine.
Scoliosis Exercises for Children
While there are scoliosis exercises for children, these should not be undertaken without the express approval of your child’s pediatrician. The scoliosis exercises recommended for children, usually involve exercises to strengthen the back, and to improve posture. Some common ones may include back extensions, upright rows, and arm extensions.
Scoliosis Exercises for Adults
There are some simple exercises that can be done to stabilize scoliosis, and prevent further curving of the spine. In particular, exercises that focus on strengthening the abdominal muscles are very beneficial. For example, contracting and holding the lower abdominal muscles, has been found to improve back support by firming up the front abdominal muscles. Also, exercises using an exercise ball can be done to stretch the back.
Yoga and Pilates exercises have also been found to be beneficial to scoliosis sufferers. Both forms of exercise work to restore the natural shape of the spine, and improve its mobility.
However, there are more intense methods of scoliosis exercises such as the Schroth method of scoliosis therapy, and the Functional Independent Treatment for Scoliosis. These have been very helpful in correcting the scoliotic condition.
Schroth Method
The Schroth method has been around for decades, and was designed by Katharina Schroth, who suffered from a mild form of scoliosis. The method is used to reverse the abnormal curvature of the spine, and improve posture. The Schroth method focuses on correcting posture and breathing patterns. Because the spine is attached to the pelvis, it is important to correct the unevenness in the pelvic area. Therefore the Schroth method first deals with the imbalance in the pelvis. Once that is complete, the next step is to focus on spinal elongation. These scoliosis exercises are specifically tailored to meet the needs of the patient. The exercises aim to first of all strengthen the spine, and secondly, to realign the vertebrae that has rotated out of position. This is referred to as vertebral derotation.
Functional Independent Treatment for Scoliosis (FITS)
These scoliosis exercises are specifically aimed at improving the range of motion, as well as correcting posture. The exercises are personalized based on the curvature of the spine, and like the Schroth method, they are usually done with the assistance of a physiotherapist. This treatment method uses a combination of movements to target the areas that restrict motion. It also establishes corrective patterns of posture.
As we have seen, scoliosis exercises may take several different forms, however, if they are to be effective, they need to be personalized to suit each patient’s particular condition. There are exercises that can be done to correct scoliotic posture, while there are others which can prevent further curvature of the spine.