I came across something written by a Dr. Stitzel on www.fixscoliosis.com that seems to say that exercises that extend the spine can actually make the curve worse (unless I'm really misunderstanding something):
"Several studies have identified activities such as ballet, competitive swimming, and rhythmic gymnastics has having significantly higher risk of developing severe scoliosis. While it isn’t entirely clear what these groups all have in common, experts feel it may be related to the excessive and repeated hyper-extension of the thoracic spine (mid back). These repeated “back bends” have a flattening effect on the thoracic spine which leaves the mid back more vulnerable to the dorsal sheer forces seen in progressive scoliosis. Some yoga/Pilates for scoliosis poses re-produce the same thoracic back bends effect and could cause a patient with a thoracic spinal curvature to get worse. This isn’t to say scoliosis patients can’t participate in yoga/Pilates, nor receive benefit from such an activity, but they must avoid any poses that causes a flattening or hyper-extension (back bends) of the mid back."
I would think spine-extending exercises would help your curve and improve posture as well. This is confusing, as is so much else about scoliosis.
"Several studies have identified activities such as ballet, competitive swimming, and rhythmic gymnastics has having significantly higher risk of developing severe scoliosis. While it isn’t entirely clear what these groups all have in common, experts feel it may be related to the excessive and repeated hyper-extension of the thoracic spine (mid back). These repeated “back bends” have a flattening effect on the thoracic spine which leaves the mid back more vulnerable to the dorsal sheer forces seen in progressive scoliosis. Some yoga/Pilates for scoliosis poses re-produce the same thoracic back bends effect and could cause a patient with a thoracic spinal curvature to get worse. This isn’t to say scoliosis patients can’t participate in yoga/Pilates, nor receive benefit from such an activity, but they must avoid any poses that causes a flattening or hyper-extension (back bends) of the mid back."
I would think spine-extending exercises would help your curve and improve posture as well. This is confusing, as is so much else about scoliosis.
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