Scoliosis rehab is a process in which you pay special attention to reducing this condition’s symptoms. There are several types of rehabilitation options. Each of them is a viable one., However, picking the right method depends on your spine’s curvature degree.
All of these treatments are aimed at helping you reduce the curvature of your spine, or at least prevent it from further developing.
We are going to mention what are your options for keeping your scoliosis in check. Let’s start off with a couple of helpful activities that will activate those muscles surrounding your spine.
1. Physical Activity
There is a series of specific exercises that are going to work great for your back muscles. Not only will it help you improve your posture and decrease your pain, but you will also become more flexible.
You can practice yoga and Pilates for scoliosis problems. One important thing to mention is that physical activity is a great option only when it comes to mild scoliosis, which is less than 20 degrees. Higher degrees of Cobb curvature requires different rehabilitation methods.
Yoga
Yoga is practiced by millions around the globe. It is a great way to strengthen all parts of your body while staying flexible. Like with many other conditions, yoga can be greatly beneficial for all those with the scoliosis condition.
There is a study that clearly concludes how some yoga poses can help with reducing the scoliotic curve in both idiopathic and degenerative scoliosis. Of course, the results vary from case to case, but they are very positive. Those who were the most persistent ones achieved the best results.
Before you start practicing yoga, it is essential that you know everything about your scoliosis type. The more you know, the better you are going to perform some poses that specifically target your spine’s curve.
Pilates
Pilates is the perfect way of stopping your spine from curving any further. There are specific Pilates plans that will help you significantly strengthen your core and back muscles. All this will positively affect your posture and reduce any scoliosis-related pain.
All you have to do is explore the best Pilates exercises for scoliosis, and start doing them. Closely follow how your body is going to react. In case you notice that your body is not reacting well to the exercise plan, some other rehabilitation options might be a better choice for you.
No matter if you plan to include yoga, Pilates, or both, it is essential that you consult scoliosis treatment professionals.
2. Physical Therapy
If however, you want to include physical therapy in your scoliosis rehab process, there are several schools offering different scoliosis exercises.
We recommend the Schroth Method, as it is one of the most effective ones. However, feel free to explore what the other options are. The good news is that there are a lot of choices. You can try them out and see which ones are going to be most suitable for you.
All the schools of scoliosis physical therapy share various benefits for your spine’s health. The goal is to achieve reduced curvature, reduced pain, better flexibility, balance, breathing, and improved posture. Pick physical therapy that will allow you to reach all of these benefits.
3. Scoliosis Braces for Adults
Exercises and therapy are not the only options. One of the scoliosis rehabilitation methods includes braces for adults. It was concluded that braces can reduce curvature and help people with their scoliosis. Of course, as with exercising, the results are going to vary from person to person.
Besides mentioning that it is essential to follow your doctor’s instructions and wearing your brace as prescribed, picking the right brace is also crucial.
Here at Align Clinic, we recommend our custom-made WCR (Wood Cheneau Rigo) brace to our patients. We prefer this brace because it is light and cozy. After the break-in period, you will get used to wearing it regularly.
This brace is special because it is custom shaped based on your curvature type. It is designed to improve your spine position from three different angles. These focus on improving the Cobb angle, the level of rotation, and Sagittal plane normalization.
Another reason why this brace type is favorable is that it allows its wearer to perform the Schroth exercises.
4. Intervention
Surgical intervention is only for those where the condition is at an advanced stage. The name of the procedure is spinal fusion. It serves to connect vertebrae (spine bones). After the surgery, the bones cannot move on their own.
This procedure serves to prevent further curving of the spine, while also correcting it over time. Of course, consider surgery to be the last step. Trying out one of the above methods is something you should go for first. Consult several specialists before you opt-in for the surgical intervention.
Concluding Thoughts
Scoliosis rehab is a long process. It is important to understand that in the majority of cases, the condition took a long time to develop. Therefore, it is going to take a long period of time to alleviate the pain and reduce the curvature of your spine. It is crucial to be persistent and patient in achieving this goal.
You can look at the whole scoliosis rehab as a type of marathon. It is a slow process, through which you are going to experience a range of health benefits and prevent this condition from worsening.
Before you consider any of the rehab options, consult a doctor first, and explore what are your options. Doing this will put you in a better perspective, making it possible for you to try out different approaches and finding the one that will suit you the most.
