What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is where the spine is rotated and shifted to the side which causes it to be in an "s" shape. It is the most common spinal deformity in otherwise healthy children and usually develops during the teenage years. It can be corrected by strengthening exercises however a brace can also be used to help correct it.

How is Scoliosis assessed?

Patients may first notice that their hips or shoulders are out of line when they are standing straight on, or that they are leaning out to one side. When being assessed by a professional, they will look for the angle of the spine known as the ‘cobb angle’ with anything over 10 degrees being classed as the person having scoliosis.

Scoliosis Rehab process

The aim of the rehab process is to strengthen the muscles which have become over stretched and weak, as well as to stretch out the shortened and tighter muscles which have pulled the spine out of line. There are two parts to the rehab, the spine has to be untwisted as well as being straightened so it can take a long time to completely straighten again however, it is able to be rehabilitated without surgery. 

A few of the rehab exercises that would be used are: 

  • Hip hitch where you try to lift your hip up and down only using your lateral trunk
  • Pallof press where you try to stop a band pulling you into rotation, this strengthens your core and lateral trunk
  • Scapula press ups where you press up through your back instead of your arms, this helps to strengthen the muscles around the scapula and helps to get the scapula back to its normal position flat against your back
  • Single leg high knee hold where you stand on one leg with the other one at 90 degrees in the air. This helps to build up the glute muscles which will help to correct uneven hips as well as support the muscles in the back.