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Last week was ‘Love Your Lungs’ Week, highlighting the importance of lung health and raising awareness on steps people can take to protect their lungs. At Scoliosis SOS Clinic, we’re passionate about supporting our patients not just with their spines, but with their overall health, which is why we’re shining a spotlight on lung function and scoliosis.
Scoliosis not only causes a sideways curvature of the spine, but also involves rotation of the vertebrae. The ribcage attaches onto the spine in the thoracic region, so as the spine curves and rotates, the shape and size of the ribcage is also affected. In some cases, this can make it difficult for the lungs to expand fully, which may impact lung capacity.
However, the impact is very individual. Many people with scoliosis have no noticeable breathing issues at all. Others may find they get breathless a bit more easily. The good news is that with the right management and targeted treatment, most people can still achieve excellent lung health and live their active lives.
We have completed numerous studies on how our treatment affects lung function. Over a period of more than 10 years, we have collected data from hundreds of patients. One measurement we look at is called Percentage of Predicted Forced Vital Capacity (PPFVC). This is a way of measuring how your lung function compares to what is expected for your age, height and gender. A normal value is above 80%. This is what we found:
1. Scoliosis rotation can influence lung function
In one study of 179 patients with thoracic scoliosis who completed our 4-week course:
- Patients with higher thoracic spinal rotation (measured by Angle of Trunk Rotation) tended to have lower lung function.
- Spinal rotation improved on average by 1.6°, and lung function improved by about 1.7%, showing the spine and lungs are closely linked.
2. Age matters: lung function is more reduced in younger patients
We looked at 607 patients of all ages who completed our 4-week course:
- Children and teenagers had the lowest baseline lung function, but improved their lung function the most.
- Young adults started with a higher baseline lung function and saw smaller, but still meaningful improvements.
- Older adults (40+ years old) had normal lung function at the beginning of treatment.
3. Physiotherapy Scoliosis Specific Exercise (PSSE) improves lung function: more so for those starting with lower lung function
In a cohort of 224 patients who completed our 4-week course:
- Those with lung capacity below 80% improved their lung function by 3.2%.
- Those with lung capacity below 70% improved their lung function by 4.8%.
- Those with lung capacity below 60% improved their lung function by 8.7%.
4. Lung function improvements are long-lasting
Across our studies looking at spinal rotation, age and baseline lung capacity of patients who completed our 4-week course:
- Lung function improvements were sustained at 6-months and one-year follow-ups.
What does this mean for you?
- Scoliosis doesn’t always cause breathing issues; however, it is a common symptom that patients can experience.
- Staying active is important for your over-all health.
- Targeted treatment can make a real difference to your lung health. Our treatment focuses on:
- Postural improvement
- Rib cage flexibility and expansion
- Strengthening and re-training breathing muscles
- Specific breathing exercises
- Improving lung capacity
- It is never too early or too late to start caring for your lungs!
Love your lungs — and your spine!
If you’d like to learn more about how our scoliosis-specific treatments can support your breathing and overall health, get in touch with our team today. We’d love to help you breathe easier and live life to the fullest. Attending for an Initial Consultation or chatting to one of our Patient Care Team is a great place to start.
References:
Figure 1 – Pediagenosis. (2020, November). Scoliosis. Retrieved June 30, 2025, from https://www.pediagenosis.com/2020/11/scoliosis.html
