In the physiotherapy world, the word mobility refers to the freedom of movement that exists in a muscle or group of muscles. People with scoliosis often experience reduced mobility in their backs (frequently accompanied by pain).
Regularly performing lower back mobilisation exercises can help to:
- Strengthen muscles in the lower back
- Improve posture
- Relieve lower back pain
- Increase mobility
- Reduce the likelihood of injury
There are lots of different mobility exercises that you can try. Here at Scoliosis SOS, we try to tailor all of our corrective exercises to each patient’s specific condition – the exercise, how often you should do it, and the other exercises we recommend incorporating into your routine are largely dependant on the severity of your scoliosis, and on your end goal. If you are someone who wants to run a marathon, you may need to perform lower back mobilisation exercises more frequently than someone with no such aspirations.
Watch the video below for a lower back mobilisation exercise that has helped many of our scoliosis patients.
This exercise uses a flat surface (e.g. the wall or the floor) to straighten your spine while you stretch your lower back muscles. Over time, repetition of this exercise will not only improve mobility and posture, it will also help to relieve tension and pain in the lower back.
If you suffer from scoliosis and think you may benefit from one of our exercise-based treatment courses, please get in touch today. We’re happy to answer any questions you might have.
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In January of this year, we treated 13-year-old Isabella from Leeds, a keen runner and rugby player who had been experiencing back pains.
Back in 2016, a friend of Isabella’s mum whose own daughter had scoliosis suggested that Isabella might have a curved spine as well. This friend instructed Isabella to bend forward and touch her toes, and she was able to identify the signs of scoliosis (this is called the Adams forward bending test).
Isabella had an X-ray and an MRI scan, which confirmed that she did indeed have idiopathic scoliosis. The scans revealed that Isabella had an ‘S’-shaped curve with a Cobb angle of 30° at the top of her spine and 15° at the base of her spine. At this point, Isabella was given two options: wear a brace, or have surgery. She didn’t want to do either of these things, and so she and her family started looking for alternative treatments online. That’s how she came across the Scoliosis SOS Clinic.
Isabella completed a 4-week course with Scoliosis SOS. She initially thought that it would be hard work, but found that the corrective stretches and exercises got easier as she went along. Isabella met lots of people at our clinic who could relate to her condition and helped her learn a lot about her own spine. When we asked Isabella if she was still experiencing pain after playing sports following her Scoliosis SOS treatment, she said that “the pain has gone now” – an amazing result!
You can see an interview with Isabella about her treatment experience here:
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Individuals with idiopathic scoliosis don’t always experience pain as a result of this condition, but there may be a loss of back strength depending on the severity of the spinal curvature. With the right exercises, however, this can be overcome – for instance, it may be beneficial to place greater emphasis on enhancing the strength, range of motion, and length-tension relationship of the working muscles on either side of the vertebral column.
Range of Motion
Defined as the ‘measurement of movement around a specific joint in the body‘, range of motion simply refers to how freely a particular part of your body can move. In the case of idiopathic scoliosis, an ‘S’ or ‘C’ curve can result in shortened musculature on the concave working muscles of the spine. These differences can dramatically decrease the unilateral range of motion at different joints in the spine, leading to reduced mobility and irregularities in one’s posture.
Strength
Back strength is essential for balance, posture and the transmission of power throughout the body. Each of these factors can make a big difference to everyday activities such as going up and down stairs, picking up objects, and standing up from a sitting position. Incorporating back strengthening exercises into a corrective scoliosis treatment programme can significantly improve functional strength and postural symmetry.
Flexibility
Defined as the ‘ability of a joint to move freely through its range of motion‘, flexibility is an important consideration for scoliosis therapists as it plays a vital role in restoring a regular length-tension relationship in the patient’s tightened skeletal muscles. Improved flexibility can result in enhanced postural symmetry, improved performance, reduced pain, and minimised risk of further injuries.
The video below showcases an effective back strengthening exercise that you can try at home:
Regular exercise is vital when attempting to correct and alleviate the symptoms of scoliosis. The exercise in the video above is just one of many that can aid in improving the strength, flexibility and range of motion in your spine.
More Scoliosis Exercises > Contact Scoliosis SOS >
Max Thompson was diagnosed with scoliosis when he was still in his teens, but he wasn’t offered any advice or treatment at the time. Here’s how he tells it:
“I didn’t know what ‘scoiliosis’ meant – it was a strange word I’d never heard before – and no treatment was offered by the NHS. So I thought, ‘well, I’ll just carry on’.”
While Max – now 60 years old – hasn’t suffered any severe symptoms from his condition and has kept himself very fit over the years, during his initial consultation with Scoliosis SOS, he compared the sensation of having a curved spine to “wearing a jumper that’s two sizes too small”. He also mentioned that he frequently felt stiff and inflexible, especially across his lower back.
Prior to coming here for treatment, Max was already doing core-strengthening exercises, plus swimming and cycling most days.
Treatment Results
Following his 4-week ScolioGold treatment course, Max has achieved significant reductions in kyphosis, coupled with better head position and posture. His thoracic (upper spine) rotation decreased by nearly 20%, while his lumbar (lower spine) rotation is completely gone, meaning that he is no longer classified as being hyperlordotic!
On seeing his before and after photographs (above), Max was amazed by the appearance in his back’s appearance and shape, remarking: “You can see my neck! I thought I’d lost my neck!”
Max’s Comments
“Over the years, I’ve seen chiropractors and sports therapists. They’d relieve it temporarily, but I always wondered if there was a better solution.
“I would recommend coming to Scoliosis SOS for a diagnosis – you’ll be treated with respect and courtesy, and given a lot of hope and a lot of inspiration. It’s a very honest diagnosis, and I came away thinking, yes, I really can improve my condition.
“The team here are excellent – they empowered me. I’ve been shown the skills, and now I can go home and do things on my own. You’re given control; I feel like I’ve got control over my own health that I didn’t have before.”
Would you like to learn more about the Scoliosis SOS Clinic? Use the links below to find out how much improvement you could make with ScolioGold therapy.
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