One of the first questions many individuals have about scoliosis and Sports when they learn they or their children have scoliosis is, “Do I have to give up X sport?”
There are several misconceptions about scoliosis and athletics, which may stem from the belief that scoliosis and sports are incompatible. True, scoliosis patients are less physically active on average. This could be related to the ailment; severe scoliosis can make exercise more difficult, but it’s more likely owing to societal causes.
It’s also true that some activities, especially those involving spine contortion, are linked to a higher percentage of scoliosis patients among individuals who participate in them. Ballet and rhythmic gymnastics come to mind as two examples.
Today, we’ll try to distill some basic guidelines for people with scoliosis.
Exercise with Scoliosis
Cardiovascular exercise is always good for your health.
Whether you have scoliosis or not, any form of activity is beneficial to your health. Exercise has numerous health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, greater aerobic ability, higher bone density, improved mental perspective, reduced body fat, and increased life expectancy.
This means that exercising on a regular basis is highly suggested for scoliosis patients. The type of exercise conducted may require much advice when dealing with adolescents who are still growing and consequently have more skeletal immaturity. Most of the advice offered to juvenile scoliosis sufferers, however, can also be applied to non-scoliosis patients!
Which Exercises Should People with Scoliosis Avoid?
Some forms of exercise, especially in adolescents, should be approached with prudence and the goal of minimizing spinal stress. Here are a few examples:
Impact Sports
Scoliosis patients, as well as teenagers in general, are concerned about rugby and other impact sports. An impact injury can result in a concussion, a spine injury, or joint damage, among other things. This type of injury may hasten the progression of a scoliotic curve in a scoliosis patient.
When discussing impact sports, we must also include athletic events such as the long jump and high jump, which, if performed poorly, can place a lot of strain on the spine.
Adolescents are the most vulnerable, although much of this can be mitigated by participating in low-impact sports like touch rugby – which is already recommended!
Resistance Training
Scoliosis patients should avoid certain types of resistance training, such as free weight lifting. The natural balance of the body is disrupted by the curvature of the spine, which raises the risk of a spinal loading injury.
This isn’t to say that resistance training should be avoided altogether; rather, it should be done in small groups with the appropriate equipment like set weights and bands. Higher loading or compressional forces may compress the growth plates, preventing vertebral body growth and potentially developing or exacerbating scoliosis. Therefore the amount of weight utilized during resistance exercise is also a source of concern.
The medical professionals should be well adapted to work with patients to improve their balance and posture, which will significantly lessen this risk, using techniques such as chiropractic biophysics, postural analysis, and scoliosis-specific exercise.
“One-Sided” Activities: Tennis, Golf, Skiing
Asymmetric loading simply refers to the application of distinct degrees of force to either side of the spine. If you carry a rucksack on your back with a single strap, you’re asymmetrically loading your spine.
Some practitioners advise against engaging in activities that place unequal stress on the body, such as sports involving a bat or racket. Still, this approach is very broad in most cases and tends to exclude many of the most enjoyable sports!
When participating in asymmetric sports, one side of the body and the muscles that support the spine may become more robust and larger than the other over time, aggravating scoliosis. If you warm up properly, there is very little risk in participating in these forms of sports.
As part of developing balance, monitoring growth, and symmetry, the non-playing side of the body should receive focused training. This is especially important for those with scoliosis, but it’s great advice for everyone!
Dance, Gymnastics and Yoga
Activities involving bending and flexing the spine are usually troublesome for people with scoliosis because of the additional stress that certain movements may impose on your spine.
Scoliosis is also more common among dancers and gymnasts for unexplained reasons, although there is no conclusive evidence that these activities cause the condition. It’s possible that scoliosis is more noticeable in certain conditions, or that people who are genetically predisposed to excel in these pursuits are more prone to develop it.
Does Scoliosis Mean I Have to Give Up these Sports?
Even while certain sports movements are risky for people living with scoliosis, this does not mean you should give up your life’s pleasures because of your condition!
Understanding your individual constraints and limitations, changing your technique to avoid injury, and increasing your strength are the keys to overcome the difficulties that an uneven spine presents.
While some sports may be more dangerous for scoliosis patients than others, all of the activities described above can be done safely if the patient is monitored and treated properly.
This will educate you on which exercises to avoid and assist you in strengthening weaker body parts and retraining your body to prevent actions that place these areas under undue stress.
Exercises which Cause Scoliosis
The development of scoliosis has been linked to certain types of exercise, such as those that distort the spine. Ballet, dance, and rhythmic gymnastics are all examples of these activities. Gymnasts are 12 to 30 percent more likely than non-gymnastics to develop scoliosis, according to several studies.
Much more research on these associations is needed to make specific choices about the risk posed by these types of activities; it could just be that scoliosis is more likely to be detected among these fields because there is a greater awareness of it.
However, before continuing with dance, ballet, or gymnastics, it is appropriate to schedule an individual consultation. Scoliosis does not have to prevent you from doing most things, but you should have a specific treatment plan in place to ensure you get the support you need.
Exercises that are Good for People with Scoliosis
Swimming was once thought to be an effective scoliosis treatment, and some scoliosis patients do enjoy swimming as part of their scoliosis-specific training routine. According to recent studies, swimming is not an effective treatment for scoliosis, while more study is needed in this area. In the same study, swimming was found to increase the risk of hyper-kyphosis.
For scoliosis patients, low-impact exercise and activity that does not progress to the point of exhaustion are ideal. Because many people with scoliosis have poor coordination, coordination-building exercises can help improve the body’s sense of position. Exercising beyond fatigue puts everyone at risk of injury, but it’s especially risky for persons with scoliosis.
As a result, shorter runs or elliptical workouts are an excellent substitute for basic cardio exercises. Cycling is also an option if the lumbar spine is not flexed too far forward.
Bottom Line
The significance of customized care is the most important takeaway from this text. Each scoliosis patient is different, and they need a treatment plan that is personalized to their needs and favorite sport.
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