What we are talking about
Scoliosis is a deviation of the spine in three planes, with a rotational component: it is not bad posture, it is a structure built that way. It has to be distinguished from a scoliotic attitude, which is an asymmetry without rotation and which does change.
Kyphosis and lordosis, on the other hand, are normal curves: the problem arises when they are exaggerated. An adolescent's rounded back can be postural — and then exercise gives a great deal — or structural, as in Scheuermann disease, and then the goals change.
In adults the curve does not reduce with exercise. What can be done, and is worth doing, is something else: strength, mobility, control and pain management, which is almost always the reason the person is looking for help in the first place.
When it makes sense to get seen
The requests we receive most often:
- You have been diagnosed with scoliosis and do not know what you can do
- Back pain you associate with the curve and that limits you
- One shoulder or hip visibly higher than the other
- Your teenage child has a rounded back and you want to know whether it is posture or something else
- You wear a brace and want to pair it with the right work
- You want to know which sport makes sense in your situation
What can be done remotely, and what cannot
The limit here is sharp and worth saying first: measuring the curve is not our job.
What can be done remotely
- Building the programme of strength, mobility and trunk control
- Working on the pain, which in adults is almost always the real reason for the request
- Explaining what your report means and which expectations are realistic
- Choosing and adapting physical activity, which is recommended and not contraindicated
- Supporting the work of those wearing a brace, in agreement with whoever is following them
What cannot
- Measuring the Cobb angle and radiographic assessment, which are medical
- Prescribing or adjusting a brace
- Specific protocols requiring manual correction by the therapist
In growing children scoliosis must be followed by a specialist, because the curve can progress during growth and check-ups have precise timings. We work alongside, we do not replace.
Frequently asked questions
Can scoliosis in adults be corrected?
The curve, no: in an adult the structure is what it is. What does change, and is often what actually matters, is the pain, the strength and how much the back limits your day. That is what we work on, and results follow.
Does swimming straighten the back?
No, and it is one of the most entrenched beliefs. Swimming is an excellent activity for general health, but it does not change a structured curve. Do it because it does you good, not expecting it to correct.
My child has a rounded back: is it posture?
It can be, and in that case exercise gives a lot. But it can also be structural. The distinction is made with a medical assessment, and it is worth making: the goals of the work change completely.
Can I go to the gym with scoliosis?
Yes, and generally it does you good. There is no list of forbidden exercises valid for everyone: technique and load are adapted to the individual. The alternative, doing nothing, is the worst choice.
