People who have scoliosis have an abnormal curvature of the spine. This condition usually develops during a child’s growth spurt before puberty.
Treatment for scoliosis depends on various factors, like the patient’s age and the severity and shape of the spinal curvature. For mild cases, your doctor may recommend physical therapy instead of surgery, and the physical therapist can teach you specific exercises to help prevent scoliosis from interfering with your lifestyle.
Exercises to Help with Scoliosis
Stretching and strengthening exercises that can help keep your scoliosis under control – and which can each be done in a set of 5 to 10 repetitions to begin with – include the following:
Pelvic Tilt
Lie down on your back on a flat surface. Keep your feet flat on the surface while bending your knees upward at a 90-degree angle. Then, raise your hips upward while tightening your stomach muscles. Hold this position for 5 seconds, and remember to breathe normally through the exercise.
Abdominal Presses
Start this exercise in the same initial position as the pelvic tilt. Use your hands to pull your knees toward your head while engaging your core to push your knees away. This is a static exercise, so your knees and arms should remain in position. Hold this position for 5 seconds at a time.
Cat-Cow
Get on the floor on your hands and knees, and keep them aligned with your shoulders and hips, respectively. Keep your head and neck aligned with your back or slightly upward during this exercise. Take a deep breath while lifting your spine toward the ceiling, creating an arch like a cat. Then, exhale while lowering your back while lifting your head toward the ceiling.
Bird-Dog
Get on the floor in the same initial position as the cat-cow. Simultaneously stretch one arm out and forward while extending the opposite leg out and backward (such as the right arm and the left leg). Keep the outstretched arm and leg as straight as possible, and hold this pose for a few deep breaths. Repeat the exercise with the opposite arm and leg.
Physical Therapy for Scoliosis in Southeast Michigan
Scoliosis-specific physical therapy can aid in lessening the curve of your spine, especially in mild cases. If the curvature becomes worse, it can cause chronic back pain, complications in the lungs or heart, and noticeable deformity – so treatment is indeed important.
If the curvature of your spine becomes worse or causes chronic pain, your spine doctor may recommend spinal fusion surgery. The physician may also prescribe wearing a spinal brace in addition to physical therapy exercises to help lessen the detrimental effects of scoliosis.
Consult with your back doctor and physical therapist so that they can provide recommendations which will help your specific condition. Here at Ahlgren Spine, we are devoted to helping our patients with surgical and nonsurgical treatments, including physical therapy. Our medical services and state-of-the-art technology will help address your back pain and restore mobility.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ahlgren, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (248) 215-8080 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you enjoy a normal, active lifestyle!
