While we don’t know what, exactly, causes scoliosis, it’s clear that this spinal condition has an adverse effect on the lives of those who suffer from it. In search of relief, many people with scoliotic spines have turned to Pilates, and there are a few simple Pilates exercises for scoliosis you can try that might help you gradually retrain the muscles in your back and reduce the intensity of your symptoms.
What Is Scoliosis?
While your spine is naturally curved when viewed in profile, this critical component of your skeletal structure is supposed to be straight from side to side. Scoliosis is a type of lateral curvature in your spine that produces an “S” or “C” shape when viewed straight on. This condition harms your posture, and it can also cause crippling back pain.
Scientists aren’t exactly sure what causes scoliosis, but this condition doesn’t appear to be linked to behaviors or habits like bad posture. Instead, scoliosis seems to occur at random, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try Pilates for scoliosis exercises to fight back against the symptoms of this condition.
Pilates for Scoliosis
Whether you want to try Pilates reformer exercises for scoliosis or you’d rather stick with a traditional mat Pilates exercise for scoliosis, there’s plenty of reasons to believe that this type of low-impact exercise might improve the symptoms of your condition. The Pilates method puts emphasis on strength and control, and improving the strength of your spine helps you heal your spine and get you back on your feet comfortably.
One of the main focuses of Pilates is postural alignment, and everyone suffers from faulty postural alignment to one degree or another. For people with scoliosis, however, posture is a huge problem, and when combined with controlled breathing, relaxation techniques, and a focus on increased stamina, Pilates can help you fight back against bad posture and start straightening your spine.
When you have scoliosis, the muscles on one side of your spine are tense and taut, and the muscles on the other side are lax and undeveloped. Both of these misaligned components of your musculoskeletal structure must be addressed to generate any relief from scoliotic symptoms, and by providing you with more control over the muscles in your spine, Pilates can give you the tools you need to improve your posture both at the studio and at home.
Even when you aren’t actively exercising, Pilates will train you to live more healthily and improve your muscular health. Every movement you make after you’ve started learning about Pilates will be more controlled and precise, and every breath you take will be fuller, deeper, and more nourishing for your body.
Is Pilates Good for Scoliosis? FAQ
To help you get a better grasp of how Pilates might be able to help you with your scoliosis, here are some quick answers to some of the most commonly asked Pilates for scoliosis questions:
1. Which Is Better for Scoliosis – Yoga or Pilates?
Any type of low-impact exercise that improves the mobility of your spine will be beneficial for reducing the symptoms of scoliosis. While yoga is a time-honored tool for improving your flexibility and other aspects of your health and well-being, Pilates incorporates modern knowledge to deliver scientifically-driven results. We don’t recommend against using yoga for scoliosis, but we strongly suggest you give Pilates a shot first.
2. Can You Correct Scoliosis with Exercise?
As far as we know, scoliosis cannot be fully “corrected.” The tendency of a scoliotic spine to curve generally remains in place after scoliosis symptoms set in. At the same time, however, it’s possible to retrain the muscles in your spine to gradually correct your posture and reduce the symptoms of scoliosis.
3. How Do I Strengthen My Back with Scoliosis?
Low-impact exercises are best when you have scoliosis. Putting too much pressure on your spine could do more harm than good, so gentle exercises, like Pilates, are perfect for strengthening your scoliotic back.
Pilates for Scoliosis: The Bottom Line
While we can’t guarantee that trying Pilates will help you with your scoliotic symptoms, it’s clear that any steps you take to improve your back strength will make your scoliosis more manageable. Try everything that Phitosophy has to offer for only $10, and make sure to let us know all about your results. At Phitosophy, your fitness and well-being is our number-one goal, and we want to do whatever we can to help you get the most out of your membership. Stop by today to start fighting back against your scoliosis the low-impact way with Pilates!