Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine – when viewed from behind, a person with scoliosis’ spine will appear to have a C-shaped or S-shaped curve. For many people the cause of scoliosis is unclear, though it does generally present itself in young children and teens between 10-15 years of age. Many cases are mild and can be addressed through the use of braces and other non-invasive therapies, though some cases may require surgical correction if they are severe enough. In cases of surgical intervention, fusion of spinal vertebrae or the insertion of a rod will be used to prevent further curvature of the spine from occurring.
How Can Physical Therapy Be Used to Treat Scoliosis?
Another option for treatment is physical therapy. Specifically, your physical therapist may employ the Schroth Method, which is a specific set of exercises aimed at correcting the curvature of the spine in all three dimensions. The exercises are customized for each patient and are focused on accomplishing the following:
Eliminating spinal rotation
Elongating the spine
Stabilizing the spine in three dimensions
Reducing pain and easing respiratory difficulty, if applicable
The patient is guided through stretches and strengthening exercises which will restore muscular symmetry. They’ll also be guided through breathing exercises and neuromotor exercises to help build the patient’s awareness of their posture and how they need to move and hold themselves to correct their curvature. Rotational Angular Breathing is one technique employed, which involves slowly rotating the spine while breathing in order to realign the rib cage. This can help in cases where scoliosis has deformed the rib cage and is causing breathing difficulty.
It’s important that these techniques are practiced regularly, as they are needed for ongoing maintenance to prevent further curvature of the spine. They are not a “cure” for scoliosis but can contribute to greatly improved quality of life and help prevent worsening of the condition without resorting to surgical interventions. Checking in with your PT consistently can help determine if any changes to your regimen are required as time goes on.
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