Exercises That Scoliosis Patients Should Avoid

Exercise is a great way to stay healthy and fit and, in fact, it is often used as a physical therapy for treating patients with back or spinal conditions. However, if you suffer from scoliosis, it is important to be aware of certain types of exercise that you should avoid because they could actually worsen your situation.

Avoid these types of exercise:

Squats and Lunges. They place more pressure on your lower body, which can increase the tension and pain in your injured back.

Those that require twisting your body. Not matter where you are rotating your body, this type of movement inflames the central segment, or rib hump, of the back each time it rotates backward toward the curvature.

Breast strokes in swimming. Normally, swimming is a good form of exercise for scoliosis patients, but there are doctors that discourage their patients from doing this particular technique due to the type of movement involved.

Those that require bending your back. Bending your back during exercise will only cause pain and it will also increase the inward curvature of your spine.

Weight-lifting. Lifting weights can add pressure to your back and, therefore, cause more pain. Although there are many varieties of weight-lifting, it is the exercises that work on the lower back and the legs must be avoided.

Yoga. There are certain Yoga poses that will inevitable increase your back pain. Avoid poses that require bending your back, curve your back, or lying on your stomach.
Jumping. Exercises such as jumping rope, jumping on a trampoline, and basketball should be avoided because they may pose a greater risk of falling. As a general rule of thumb, regardless of the type of exercise you’re doing or sport you’re playing, do everything you can to avoid jumping and prevent falling.

Exercise is highly beneficial when executed properly, but if you engage in certain forms that are not good for your body type, it can easily worsen your condition. Patients with back conditions like scoliosis should always seek the advice of their doctors to determine which types of exercise should be avoided and which types will help their condition improve.

-Dr Sid
Esprit Wellness (Find us on Facebook)