Can I make this worse?

[steve g]

I've just been diagnosed with a 30 degree curve, along with two compensatory curves. I'm 28 years old, enjoy sports, working out, etc. The surgeon said I've had this since I was a teenager, but I didn't notice anything until a few years ago. He also said that there was nothing that I can do to make it worse or better...I found this hard to believe.

So, I was wondering if lifting weights will make things worse. I've been noticing the rotational effect of scoliosis over the last year or two, and it seems to be getting worse. I've been modifying my workouts, etc.

I guess that I realize that there's no way to improve this, but I would at least like to stop the curve from progressing. I've really been trying to strengthen the muscles in my upper and lower back, as well as my stomach. However, they were already pretty strong, so I'm not sure if this will do any good. Ultimately, I just don't want to make things worse.

Thanks

[trcylynn]

The only thing I've read that will make it worse is back extensions of any form- it strengthens the strong side while keeping the weak side weak. I workout and play sports as well. I think as long as you are focusing on your posture and feeling all of your muscles work equally you'll be fine. If your going through the exercise motions fast chances are you aren't helping yourself because your body already compensates for the scoliosis so it will continue to compensate and make the strong stronger and weak the same. I'm no doctor of course but I see a benefit when I take my time lifting and exercising. I make those weak muscles work and at times I appear straighter after doing so.

Hope that helps!

[aktech23]

My Dr gave me stretches to do daily, and they help a bit.

I take calcium as well. I'm 35 now, but my problems started getting bad at around 30. It took me off of the ski hill :(

[swimmergirlsmom]

My daughter's Schroth Physical Therapist showed Lauren what exercises she CAN do vs which ones she should NOT do. My daughter is a competitive swimmer, and the swimming is fine, but there were some dry land exercises that she was told not to do, as they either worked the convex sides of the curves (which are already too strong, pulling the curve in the bad direction) or some of the exercises were not friendly for the rotation. We learned that often an exercise that would be symmetrical for a straight spined person does not work the muscles symmetrically if you have a curved spine, so I’m glad we have a physical therapist who was able to observe Lauren’s exercises and show us which ones are not good for her.
Lauren also does some isolation exercises that work on strengthening the concave sides of the curves, in addition to doing Schroth derotational breathing exercises. You can email our therapist and she might be able to refer you to a specialist near where you live: btorres3380@sbcglobal.net (note: she is in Germany right now and may not have access to email until the first week in May) or feel free to send me a Private Message if you want to discuss in more detail.

[JamieR]

I have also been told by my doctor that nothing you do makes your curve worse. I had a baby and it really did not affect my curve any. If it is going to progress, it is going to progress. Unfortunately for you, you are past the age where a brace would help you stabilize your curve. Luckily, your curve is still low. I think most surgeons don't recommend surgery until you are 50 degrees or higher. But you should keep an eye on your back and keep getting regular x-rays, that way if your curve keeps progressing and you ever get to the point of needing surgery, you can do it before it gets too far along. Good luck!

[JamieR]

By the way, if you are a fan of Pilates, I have heard that is really good for scoliosis patients. My doctor said it just keeps you very flexible and again, like everyone said before, having strong muscles is a plus. I am not as active as I used to be and I think that is one reason I really started noticing more pain!

[Susie*Bee]

Steve-- When you asked your surgeon about it, did you specifically mention the weightlifting? If not, my suggestion would be to contact your surgeon's office and ask. To me, it makes sense that if you are putting a lot of force on an already crooked spine, you are stressing the curve area, as it will be your weak spot. As you know, there are lots of ways to keep in shape and build muscle without putting undo stress on your spine. Since you said you have modified what you do-- and you are really concerned, you will probably be ok. As for halting curve progression by exercising, I don't think that will work, but it won't hurt to try. Most of the curves that are progressing in adults will continue to progress... but others have curves that stay the same-- some do, some don't.

I remembered reading one post about a doctor's response, but maybe that's because it was my doctor! Here's the link to what this guy said, in case it helps. http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showpost.php?p=23839&postcount=11

Good luck!

[amae28]

I am 20 and lift weights regularly, and I talked to my surgeon about it. (I haven't had surgery yet). He basically told me to avoid lifting weights over my head as it puts extra strain on your spine. There are machines that don't require you to lift above your head for about every lift there is, you just may have to look around a bit to find those for the muscles you are aiming at working. My curves have been progressing but I really doubt that it's a product of lifting. Just don't do something that hurts and avoid working your lower back with that machine that you lay face-down on and "sit up" backwards like someone above mentioned.

[steve g]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their positive feedback.

Steve

[Writer]

I would be very careful with weightlifting. I did a lot of unsupervised bodybuilding training back in the 1980s, before I was diagnosed with scoliosis. I think the weights contributed to the original development of my problem. Later, after I understood what had happened, some specific targeted weight-training exercises contributed to the improvement of my problem.

Scoliosis almost always involves an imbalance of musculature in the back and usually elsewhere (such as legs and feet). The combination of strength imbalances is what pulls your spine into an abnormal rotation. If, for instance, you do lat pulls and your right arm pulls harder than the left, because you're right-handed, the likelihood of overdeveloping the right-side latissimus dorsi at the cost of the left is pretty good. You could thereby exacerbate a right-convex thoracic curve, if that's what you already have.

To be safe, consult a physiotherapist -- because their daily bread is working with muscles -- or an advanced strength conditioning consultant who understands the configuration of your particular scoliosis.

[txmarinemom]

I lifted weights pre-op, and was released a few weeks back (I'm currently 13 weeks post-op) to start sensibly lifting again. Hanson usually tells me "just use good judgement". Of course, just like with pregnancy, the things I'm released to do are things I did before ... NOT things I am trying to *start* post-op.

Anyway, the more you read here, the more you'll read everyone (and every surgeon) is different. I saw where Abbie posted: My surgeon did his SRS fellowship under her surgeon - and even *they* have different views.

My xrays show fusion is coming along well and at this point I'm just lifting lower weights (10 lb dumbells) and doing more reps. I have no restrictions on lifting over my head. By choice, I'm not yet doing any type of pulling type exercises (lat pull downs, chin ups, etc.).

If you're working both sides equally, and you've got a sensible workout plan, I honestly don't see how you could possibly make things worse. If your curve is going to progress, it's going to progress ... or not. The most proactive thing to do is have regular x-rays: Compared to your baseline, these can catch any potential movement.

(Keep in mind, the margin of error in Cobb measurement can be ±5° (read by the same doctor), and as high as ±10° if x-rayed and read by a different doctor. All this means is don't take a subsequent x-ray that may show and increase of 2° as a definite sign of progression.)

Be sure you add some stretching (yoga, Pilates, etc.) to your routine to increase/maintain flexibility.

About the only things I'm not yet released to do is run, play softball, play golf and deep sea fish. The restrictions on running, softball and golf will be lifted in June. I was, however, released to the batting cages and driving range several weeks ago.

Deep sea fishing (i.e., trying to pull up an 80 lb. Amberjack) will obviously be a bit longer, but I am currently released to fish the shallows and flats. If I find myself in a situation where I've hooked something too heavy - or that appears to be running too hard - I think I'll have the good sense the simply cut the line. Tackle's a hell of a lot cheaper than a revision.

Regards,
Pam