Pilates for Scoliosis
Like many medical conditions scoliosis has a few changes over the decades from people in back braces or having spinal fusion surgery in their teen years, to being told not to do exercise. Now we have updated changes and many movement based activities that not only help adjust the spine to be more optimal to assisting in pain management and treatment.
For background the clients have had x-rays and additional treatments from other doctors prior to starting their pilates journey. Many have experienced a less than successful treatment on their scoliosis and chose to find a more functional and holistic practice to help ease their pain and posture.
Pilates benefits for scoliosis
Pilates helps fix muscular imbalances in your body by lengthening and strengthening all muscle groups.
A skilled instructor will be able to educate you further on what works best for your scoliosis (as many have various scoliosis curves).
Pilates will help you strength to allow increased optional movement and daily functions.
Pilates will also increase your proprioception to avoid falls and other gait or balance issues related to your scoliosis.
Pilates works your back muscles to increase length in your spine and allow you to open up which in turn can help you breath better!
Here is a few key points to keep in mind for your scoliosis exercise.
Move to the extent that it feels comfortable, it should not hurt you.
You may start out stretching but as you loosen up, your strength training in pilates will gradually increase.
Over time you will start to feel like you are lopsided but with the long term process you will learn that this new added length is how you should of been feeling all along.
credits to: OACMorthopedics