Scoliosis cured by "bar hanging"

[Elisa]

I came oh so close to getting back on that horse but my healing back said to wait a day or two, lol.

I have a new plan now. While I was putting on clean sheets on my son's bed a little while ago, he mentioned that his closet might be a good place to install the hanging bar permanently. I think that's a great idea! There's no door on his closet, it's just open and it has a proper jamb on it. All I have to do is clean out a few things and presto it can be put there where he is more likely to use it. I'm going to put a nice thick foamy on the floor underneath as well so if he falls or the bar gives, it's a super soft landing. I'm a genius.

I've been watching him hang upside down today and not only is he stretching out his back/upper body, he's starting to do little pull ups too. I told him his belly is going to ache tomorrow.

[Elisa]

I've just finished reorganizing my son's bedroom. Took all the shelves out of his closet except the very top one, put the bar back in (supported on the pieces of wood that held up the shelf) as well as put down a 3 inch foam and sleeping bag on top. Don't worry, the barbells that the Kenny pillow is holding is just for the pic and won't be there when my son hangs.

I'm really excited about this b/c I saw yesterday how much he seemed to enjoy hanging around and stretching out on the bar as well as he did say that it felt really good. I haven't wrapped any foam around the bar as of yet but if he complains about it hurting the back of his knees again then I will. I think he just needs to get used to the metal b/c he's been so inactive for so long.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f..._01/003-16.jpg

[JenniferG]

His own personal hanging cupboard!

[Elisa]

His own personal hanging cupboard!

Yep, just call him Bat Boy.

He's not the most sociable kid at the best of times and when I told my daughter this morning what I was planning on doing, she said: "Great, now I can tell all my friends that my little brother does actually hang out." She's a card, lol.

[Still Hoping]

Hurts Hands

I love the posts on this thread and think there is some Great information and suggestions on it. Info that you'll never hear from doctors (at least not ours, again, there is no profit in these techniques). I am ready to buy an inversion table for my 13 yr. old daughter (and myself) now.

My question is, to any of you: whenever we hang from our bar in a doorway, it hurts the heck out of our hands and gives us callouses! Our bar is even covered with a thick foam around it. How do you get around this? Does it get better? Does your skin toughen up? Do you get callouses? Are we doing something wrong? Because we can only stand to hang for less than 60 seconds because our hands hurt so bad! Does anyone have any wisdom on this? Thanks.

[hdugger]

I *think* people are hanging from their knees (rather than their hands), but I'm not certain.

[Still Hoping]

Also, DJean1:

Can you be more specific in describing the exercise you do (on the Total Gym)? You say you're on a slant and pull yourself all the way to the top? What does this mean? I looked at the Total Gym on youtube and am having a hard time picturing this exercise. Where did you hear about this technique for scoliosis? Where did your get the Weider version and how much did it cost? Thanks


Jenny

[Still Hoping]

thanks hdugger, maybe that is it. It is making my back feel better just thinking about it!

I *think* people are hanging from their knees (rather than their hands), but I'm not certain.

[Elisa]

Just make sure the bar is fastened properly before you dangle!

My son is still hanging from his knees on the bar after he comes home from school each day and he says it feels good so all is well. I on the other hand am sticking to running up and down four flights of stairs at work to keep me toned.

thanks hdugger, maybe that is it. It is making my back feel better just thinking about it!

[Elisa]

Coming up three weeks now since I crashed on my head/back from attempting to dangle from the exercise bar and all is fine with me, although I still have a small 'red rock' scar on my upper back. I feel so much closer with the Australians now, lol.

My son on the other hand has been dangling daily and yesterday he told me it felt really good and did manage to get some of those "kinks" out that were bugging him. He has not been using the A535 muscle rub either this whole time, so that's interesting. I'm all for simple solutions to make one feel better.

[djean1]

Magnesium??

Elisa, I am glad you're ok and healing. My bar has no hardware, it sorta wedges on the door - its this one - http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Total-Upp.../dp/B001EJMS6K (I got it at a dollar store for $12 on sale ) I have it on a low doorframe and my feet brush the ground so I have to pick them up a little. But, all of the dorways in my house are low which is very convenient I guess.

Have any of you guys (a real person with scioliosis) experimented taking magnesium supplements on a regular basis?

See...

http://www.ctds.info/scoliosis_causes.html
http://drkevinlau.blogspot.com/2006/...scoliosis.html
(I bought this book, but haven't been able to read it yet..)
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/sco...questions.html
there are alot more..

I guess the theory is that over time, constant muscle tightness and/or contractions contort the spine over. I know that magnesium has aleviated hip pain that I have occasionally, but I have not tried taking it regularly.

Any input?

[djean1]

Gym Response

Yes, my weider gym is a knock off of the Total Gym on youtube - much cheaper. Its this one --> for $126.+ The reviews were very very good.

I just lay on it and pull myself up to the top - it is one of the exercises on the poster that comes with the gym (the first one). You lay on your back - with your head toward the top of the bench (versus upside down lol), then you grab onto the handles which are above your head and pull the handles down toward your sides to pull yourself up to the top (the bench slides on rails/pipes - two rails/pipes which are parallel). One side of the entire 'bench on parallel pipes' system can be raised to increase the effort needed (more gravity). If you master that, which I will probably never, you can hook up the elastic bands (there are 4 available) at the bottom to add more resistance. But, I think gravity is pretty good (so not to overdo it). I have overdone it in the past and made my shoulder blade a bit sore. It took over a week to go away.

My hanging bar is a knock off of the golds gym bar (mine is "iron bar") - needs no tools and lifts off at will so you can shut the door.

I didn't really hear about the hanging or exercising while stretching idea. I saw the scroth method on the internet and youtube and I was very interested but it seems scarey. I would be afraid of jerking something out of place. I also tried Yoga (Elise Miller - who looks great inspite of having severe scoliosis since she was a teen- but I kept pulling my neck (I'm sure it was me).

I am always always experimenting - its my personality. I figure this would be a way to stretch my back out and increase muscle. One side of my back was very dilapidated. I am very interested also in builidng core strength by excersing with the blow-up ball - but, I roll right off it... Anyway, please remember to start very very slowly.

On another note, has anyone experimented with Magnesium? - PLEASE see my recent post/inquiry (from today) with more details, links, etc. and post back if you have personAlly tried it.

Thanks.

Also, DJean1:

Can you be more specific in describing the exercise you do (on the Total Gym)? You say you're on a slant and pull yourself all the way to the top? What does this mean? I looked at the Total Gym on youtube and am having a hard time picturing this exercise. Where did you hear about this technique for scoliosis? Where did your get the Weider version and how much did it cost? Thanks


Jenny

[djean1]

Upside down?

I can't imagine. Does he need help getting upside down. Youth!

Just make sure the bar is fastened properly before you dangle!

My son is still hanging from his knees on the bar after he comes home from school each day and he says it feels good so all is well. I on the other hand am sticking to running up and down four flights of stairs at work to keep me toned.

[djean1]

Hand help

I sometimes use padded bicycle gloves. - Walmart very inexpensive. Nonslip and they even have thin gel pads on the palm.

I love the posts on this thread and think there is some Great information and suggestions on it. Info that you'll never hear from doctors (at least not ours, again, there is no profit in these techniques). I am ready to buy an inversion table for my 13 yr. old daughter (and myself) now.

My question is, to any of you: whenever we hang from our bar in a doorway, it hurts the heck out of our hands and gives us callouses! Our bar is even covered with a thick foam around it. How do you get around this? Does it get better? Does your skin toughen up? Do you get callouses? Are we doing something wrong? Because we can only stand to hang for less than 60 seconds because our hands hurt so bad! Does anyone have any wisdom on this? Thanks.

[Elisa]

No he doesn't need help (unlike me, heh) getting upside down as the bar is set fairly low. I posted a pic somewhere in this thread and you can see that it's fairly low and I haven't moved it since. He told me the other day that he "got some kinks out" that were bugging him and he seemed pleased that he could do this all by himself; very encouraging.

I can't imagine. Does he need help getting upside down. Youth!