Originally posted by Bigbluefrog
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I wish you and your daughter luck with your work. Yes, I'm currently working with an eleven year old and an eighteen year old and motivation is tricky. Actually, I find motivation challenging sometimes myself, but I aim to do a little bit every day - even if it's only five minutes.
To continue the conversation about treatment:
More and more these days it seems to me that non-surgical scoliosis treatments are focusing on similar themes. They are:
Proprioception training
Muscle conditioning (stretching and strengthening to achieve a more symmetrical musculature)
Posture training
In my opinion the best results will occur when these approaches are integrated, and the closer the integration the more effective the result. In other words, having a routine that involves doing a proprioception exercise, followed by a muscle conditioning exercise, followed by a postural exercise will be less effective than using single exercises which incorporate all aspects at once. My approach is based on the latter style of exercises.
I also believe that success will be based not on the correct choice of exercises per se, but on the detailed supervision of their performance (either by an observer/coach or by self-supervision. I use mirrors for this) Doing fifty repetitions of a standing-leg-lift will be less effective than doing one or two standing-leg-lifts while paying very close attention to their execution so that the movements are done with as close to perfect form as possible.
My approach is very detail oriented. Everyone can do a standing-leg-lift - bring their knee up, then drop it down again. But a correctly performed standing-leg-lift presents a serious challenge.
A correctly performed standing-leg-lift starts with a person standing with their feet together or only slightly apart. The person then brings one knee up until their thigh is horizontal to the floor, then lowers it again. The movement is performed at a smooth, unhurried pace. For the movement to be considered accurate, the pelvis remains still during the movement - it doesn't list to left or right, rotate or otherwise become displaced. Likewise, there is no lateral movement of the supporting leg or flexion at its joints: hip, knee or ankle. It is surprisingly difficult for people without scoliosis. In cases of scoliosis, my experience so far is that one side is closer to being able to perform the movement correctly than the other (no surprise). On the weak leg, the person often feels that they are more likely to fall over than to bring their knee up without a large shifting of their pelvis or leg. In my opinion this reveals how scoliosis is more than a spinal problem. The scoliotic imbalance can be traced all the way down to our feet.
Best to everyone
- Joshua
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