Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that may be present at birth, or caused by certain diseases that cause muscle weakness or poor muscle control, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, polio or spina bifida; however, sometimes there is no known cause. Stretching methods can help you strengthen and lengthen the muscles involved to help alleviate pain and possibly correct the curvature.
Pilates
Pilates can help with scoliosis because it works towards elongating your body and keeping it symmetrical. Pilates helps to better position body parts in accordance with the spine. Practicing the exercises makes you aware of how both sides of your body feel, enabling you to work on the weakened side more. Breathing into your back is the Pilates way of breathing, and this can give you better quality breathing, sending more oxygen to your core.
Schroth Method
The Schroth method is a physiotherapeutic treatment that uses isometrics and other exercises to strengthen and lengthen the asymmetrical muscles in a scoliotic body, according to the Schroth Method website. The abnormal twists in the spine are due to strength and bulk imbalances in the back's muscles causing asymmetrical muscles. The goal of this method is to halt curve progression, reduce pain, improve posture, avoid surgery and at best reverse abnormal curvatures. The Schroth method is different for each individual, since different muscles can be affected.
Yoga
Yoga can help scoliosis by focusing on proper alignment, decreasing pain and minimizing further curvature of the spine, according to "Yoga Journal." Practicing yoga uses the whole body. Strengthening your feet and legs helps improve balance so you distribute your weight evenly. Many yoga poses stretch out the spine, which can reduce the abnormal curvature. Increasing flexibility helps to prevent your upper back from rounding due to tight muscles. Likewise, keeping the abdominal muscles strong and stretched prevents the back muscles from overworking and tightening up further. Breathing is a large part of yoga, and can create more lung capacity since difficulty breathing is a symptom of scoliosis.
Massage Therapy
Two massage therapy techniques can help scoliosis by stretching the shortened muscles causing the curvature of the spine, according to the Institute for Integrative Healthcare Studies. Cranial-sacral therapy addresses the restricted tissues that surround the spine. This type of massage therapy can help you enhance your mobility. Deep tissue massage stretches the abnormally tight muscles to enhance circulation for pain relief. It elongates your muscles so the spine can relax. Massage therapy helps relieve other symptoms of scoliosis, such as back pain, shallow breathing, sciatica, headaches and insomnia.
