Hi everyone,
I'm new to the list. I have posted a messages previously, but I guessed something happened. Well, I'm posting it again.
I'd like to share with you my story and how I've been coping with scoliosis since the say I found I had it.
I was born in Peru 28 years ago. When I was 9, I noticed one of my hips was slightly higher than the other. I didn't care and continued living my normal life. When I was in my teens, it got worse. People made fun of me because I walked with one shoulder higher than the other. I was confused. I didn't know what was going on. People told me it was because I didn't know how to walk properly. I tried walking in different ways, but nothing seemed to work. So I grew up thinking I didn't know how to walk, how to stand up right. I thought I was clumsy.
Later on, when I was 23, a doctor told me I had something wrong with my hips. He told me to see a back doctor. The back doctor thought maybe one of my legs was longer than the other. So x rays were done to check my legs and back. It was then when the doctor found my curvature. It was just like an S. He didn't know what to do so he sent me to another doctor. This other doctor finally found out what I had: scoliosis. He performed a set of 4 x rays, and told me there was nothing to do. I was too old to wear braces. The only thing I could do was exercise, wait, and see. He told me to go back after 3 months for another set of x rays to check my progress. I started exercising, but I never went back.
That same year, 1998, I came to the US. Here I found more information about scoliosis. I also found out x rays can cause cancer and it should be performed with a lead shield. I had never used a lead shield during a x ray session in Peru, not even at the dentist. Now I'm glad I didn't go back for the other set of x rays.
I got a gym at home and started lifting weights to build my back muscles. Years later, people didn't notice I had scoliosis until I'd mentioned it. Later, I introduced low impact aerobics and yoga. Now, people don't notice it. Not even after I tell them. They think I'm joking.
I've never had my curve measured with a scoliometer. I would've liked to check my progress.
Exercising have helped me a lot. I feel better and I look better.
This is what I've been doing in the past years:
I lift weights to strengthen my back muscles so they can support my spine and "pull" it in place.
I lift weights up and down to develop my shoulders and upper back muscles.
I do sit-ups to develop abdominal and lower back muscles.
I do low impact aerobics, which strengthen and stretch my muscles while being kind with my joins.
I do yoga to stretch my muscles and improve my posture.
I combine all this exercises in a 85-minute routine.
I do yoga for 15 minutes. Then I do a 70-minute workout where I combine weight lifting with low impact aerobics.
If you want to start exercising, you can start 20 minutes one day, then add 10 minutes more the next day.
Remember to keep your back straight.
Always warm up for 5 minutes before exercising
Always warm down after exercising.
Don't lift more weights than you should. You are the one in control, not the other way around. If your body or arms shake while lifting weights, or if the weights pull you forward, then you should lower the amount of weights.
When lifting weights, keep your elbows slightly bent and your wrists parallel to your forearm.
If you always get a neck pain after doing sit-ups, get a sit-up equipment to isolate your abdominal muscles.
If after doing aerobics, you can't sing but you can talk, then you have done the right amount of exercises. If you can't talk, then you have overdone it.
If your spine hurts after performing a certain movement, then don't do it again.
Let your muscles rest every other day. This means you only exercise every other day.
Always ask your doctor before exercising.
I hope this help you with your battle against scoliosis
Take care
Angie
I'm new to the list. I have posted a messages previously, but I guessed something happened. Well, I'm posting it again.
I'd like to share with you my story and how I've been coping with scoliosis since the say I found I had it.
I was born in Peru 28 years ago. When I was 9, I noticed one of my hips was slightly higher than the other. I didn't care and continued living my normal life. When I was in my teens, it got worse. People made fun of me because I walked with one shoulder higher than the other. I was confused. I didn't know what was going on. People told me it was because I didn't know how to walk properly. I tried walking in different ways, but nothing seemed to work. So I grew up thinking I didn't know how to walk, how to stand up right. I thought I was clumsy.
Later on, when I was 23, a doctor told me I had something wrong with my hips. He told me to see a back doctor. The back doctor thought maybe one of my legs was longer than the other. So x rays were done to check my legs and back. It was then when the doctor found my curvature. It was just like an S. He didn't know what to do so he sent me to another doctor. This other doctor finally found out what I had: scoliosis. He performed a set of 4 x rays, and told me there was nothing to do. I was too old to wear braces. The only thing I could do was exercise, wait, and see. He told me to go back after 3 months for another set of x rays to check my progress. I started exercising, but I never went back.
That same year, 1998, I came to the US. Here I found more information about scoliosis. I also found out x rays can cause cancer and it should be performed with a lead shield. I had never used a lead shield during a x ray session in Peru, not even at the dentist. Now I'm glad I didn't go back for the other set of x rays.
I got a gym at home and started lifting weights to build my back muscles. Years later, people didn't notice I had scoliosis until I'd mentioned it. Later, I introduced low impact aerobics and yoga. Now, people don't notice it. Not even after I tell them. They think I'm joking.
I've never had my curve measured with a scoliometer. I would've liked to check my progress.
Exercising have helped me a lot. I feel better and I look better.
This is what I've been doing in the past years:
I lift weights to strengthen my back muscles so they can support my spine and "pull" it in place.
I lift weights up and down to develop my shoulders and upper back muscles.
I do sit-ups to develop abdominal and lower back muscles.
I do low impact aerobics, which strengthen and stretch my muscles while being kind with my joins.
I do yoga to stretch my muscles and improve my posture.
I combine all this exercises in a 85-minute routine.
I do yoga for 15 minutes. Then I do a 70-minute workout where I combine weight lifting with low impact aerobics.
If you want to start exercising, you can start 20 minutes one day, then add 10 minutes more the next day.
Remember to keep your back straight.
Always warm up for 5 minutes before exercising
Always warm down after exercising.
Don't lift more weights than you should. You are the one in control, not the other way around. If your body or arms shake while lifting weights, or if the weights pull you forward, then you should lower the amount of weights.
When lifting weights, keep your elbows slightly bent and your wrists parallel to your forearm.
If you always get a neck pain after doing sit-ups, get a sit-up equipment to isolate your abdominal muscles.
If after doing aerobics, you can't sing but you can talk, then you have done the right amount of exercises. If you can't talk, then you have overdone it.
If your spine hurts after performing a certain movement, then don't do it again.
Let your muscles rest every other day. This means you only exercise every other day.
Always ask your doctor before exercising.
I hope this help you with your battle against scoliosis
Take care
Angie
Comment