Cydney came to the Scoliosis SOS Clinic to receive non-surgical treatment for her spinal curvature. She was concerned that her scoliosis would interfere with her ambitions to become a professional dancer – read on to find out about Cydney’s experience with us!
When Cydney was 13 years old, her dance teacher noticed that her back and shoulders were not properly aligned. The teacher advised her to go and get her back checked by a doctor, so Cydney went for an X-ray, and the results were worse than she could have anticipated. The X-ray scan revealed that Cydney had 55-degree scoliosis.
Naturally, Cydney was worried that her scoliosis might affect her chances of pursuing a career in dance, so she sought treatment straight away. While her parents scoured the Internet for answers, Cydney attended some basic physio sessions that were provided by the NHS. Unfortunately, they could only provide ten hours of treatment, and neither Cydney nor her parents felt this was sufficient.
In a bid to find alternative treatment options, Cydney’s mother reached out on social media. A friend responded and suggested Scoliosis SOS, and Cydney arranged her treatment with us shortly afterwards. Watch the video below to find out how Cydney got on!
Cydney has been dancing since the age of seven, and she was devastated when she found out her scoliosis could affect her applications for dance college. She was, however, overjoyed when one college (the one she is attending now) accepted her application despite her condition. Dealing with scoliosis while attending dance school has put added pressure on Cydney, who has to work harder than other dancers to maintain correct posture and balance.
Cydney says that using the ScolioGold exercises she learnt here at the clinic alongside her usual dance training is helping her to develop and maintain her amazing results and progress at college in a way she never thought possible. Cydney was recently chosen to perform in the open day ballet class at her college, a prestigious event for which she didn’t think she would be considered because of her scoliosis.
In the future, Cydney wants to pursue a dance career in the West End, on cruises or in music videos. She is already working hard alongside her studies to accomplish these dreams; she teaches dance, she assists and demonstrates for one of her friends, and she is already travelling the length and breadth of the country to perform!
It is amazing to see the things Cydney has been able to achieve already, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for her. If you or a loved one have scoliosis, please get in touch today so we can discuss the treatment options available to you.
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Weightlifting has the potential to be quite a damaging pastime for people with scoliosis, but it can also be beneficial in the correct circumstances. If approached carefully, weight-based exercise may help to improve muscle balance and reduce the visibility of one’s spinal curvature.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss a few things to bear in mind if you have scoliosis and you plan to start lifting weights.
Weightlifting might be painful – don’t push yourself too hard!
Would-be weightlifters with scoliosis need to be mindful of their condition at all times. Start with small weights and simple exercises to gauge what’s comfortable and what isn’t. Work with a comfortable weight for the first few weeks, and then step up your weight a little bit and see how you feel.
Don’t do anything that causes you pain – you should avoid certain back-focused exercises like deadlifts, squats or lunges unless you are certain you can handle them. Bending and straightening your back while carrying weight is likely to cause injury. Speak to your GP to discuss what weightlifting exercises are appropriate for your condition; you could also enlist the help of a personal trainer to guide you while you’re lifting.
Focus on exercises that stretch your back muscles instead of compressing them.
Here are some weightlifting exercises you may wish to try if you have scoliosis:
- Pull-down cable exercises
- Rowing
- Seated exercises
Stretching and strengthening the muscles on the concave side of your spinal curve can gradually help to improve mobility and reduce pain. That’s because the muscles on the convex side usually do most of the work for you back – these are muscles that have been trying to keep your back upright since you developed scoliosis.
The concave muscles, however, are often shorter and atrophied (weaker), so working on these muscles can help to correct your scoliosis curve.
How can Scoliosis SOS help?
If you have scoliosis and you’re interested in pursuing weightlifting or another physically-demanding leisure activity, we recommend coming to our clinic for a consultation to establish how severe your condition is. Our consultants will be able to offer advice about the best types of exercise for you and what you can work towards in the future.
Our 4-week ScolioGold treatment courses are ideal if you want to work towards being able to lift weights (or to carry on weightlifting, if this was a hobby you enjoyed before you were diagnosed). Click the button below to get in touch and book your initial consultation.
