Scoliosis is a postural deformity related with spine. It is a sideways curvature or bending of the spine in one direction. If spine curves more than one time at different parts of spine it is called multiple scoliosis. This causes one shoulder down and other is raised up. Body weight is shifted to side ward and it causes lot of pressure on one side of the foot.
Mild scoliosis does not typically cause problems, but severe cases of it can interfere breathing of a person. Its treatment depends on the various factors like: degree of curve, location, and cause. Treatment may include bracing of spine, specific exercises, and surgery. Exercise is recommended to make the spine strong and preventing worsening of the problem.
Scoliosis occurs in about 3 out of 100 people. It most commonly occurs between the ages of 10 and 20 years. Females are more severely affected than males as it occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty.
Scoliosis causes
Causes of scoliosis several reasons such as:
- Genetic or birth defects.
- Wear and tear in the spine.
- Difference in the lengths of the legs.
- Lifting weight towards one side in routine.
- Wrong standing posture.
- Injuries to the spine.
- Infection of spine.
- Unsuitable furniture.
- Neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy.
Signs and Symptoms
Scoliosis can be identified by following symptoms:
- Uneven shoulders: One shoulder down and other is raised up.
- Uneven waist: Waist of the person seems to be bent one side.
- Uneven hip: One hip down and other is raised up.
- Uneven leg length: Length of one leg is longer than the other leg.
- Back pain: Person have scoliosis feel back pain at the point of curve in the spine.
When to go to doctor for scoliosis diagnosis?
Contact your doctor and get diagnosed when you see above signs and symptoms in the bosy. Scoliosis can be diagnosed by X-Ray. Mild scoliosis usually don’t cause any pain and develop without knowledge of the person. Occasionally, friends, teachers, and teammates of the person are the first people to notice scoliosis in a person.
Precautions of Scoliosis
- Never walk for long time with carrying weight in one hand.
- Always stand in correct posture.
- Use suitable furniture.
- Balanced diet should be taken.
- Study should be avoided in sideways bending position.
Scoliosis treatment
- Bracing is implemented to hold the curve and prevent it from progressing to the point where surgery is recommended. In some cases, bracing has reduced curves significantly, from 40° out of the brace to 18°.
- Surgery is usually recommended by orthopedists for curves greater than 45 to 50° of magnitude. Surgeons who are specialized in spine surgery perform surgery for scoliosis.
- Hold the horizontal bar with hands and let your body hang for some time.
- Swim by using breaststroke technique.
- Performing bending exercise in opposite side of the ‘C’ shaped curve.
- Perform Trikonasana and Ardha chakrasana in opposite direction of your spine curve.
Scoliosis exercise
- Bar hanging
Hold the bar with hands and hang for 3-5 minutes daily. Bar hanging is a very simple exercise which helps in curing scoliosis and increasing height of a person. Hanging on bar stretches your whole body. It also stretches the spine. Your spine gets stretched with your bodyweight, which forces your spine to get straight.
Benefits of bar hanging:
- Bar hanging stretches the spine.
- It helps to align the spine straight.
- Bar hanging is very useful for person suffering from scoliosis as it strengthen and straighten the spine.
- Swimming
Swimming is very popular activity usually for recreation, sport and exercise. It increases the coordination of the body. Swimming as an exercise is popular as an all-around body developer. Swimming is very good for person suffering from scoliosis. While swimming there comes so much pressure on spine which helps in the straightening of the spine.
Benefits of swimming:
- Spine becomes stronger and flexible.
- Swimming helps in straightening of spine.
- It boosts stamina of a person.
- It also increases the coordination of body.
- Bending exercise
Performing bending exercise in opposite side of the ‘C’ shaped curve can straighten the spine. Person having scoliosis must do bending exercise atleast 4-5 minutes daily. Initially it will be quite difficult for the person having scoliosis to bend in opposite side of spine curve. But with daily practice spine will become straight, stronger and more flexible.
Benefits of bending exercise:
- Bending in opposite side of spine curve can make the spine straight and cure the problem of scoliosis.
- It improves the body posture of a person.
- Spine becomes strong and flexible.
- Perform Trikonasana
Trikonasana also known as triangle Pose, is a standing asana in modern yoga as exercise. It is performed in two parts, facing left, and then facing right. It strengthens the knees, ankles, legs, chest, spine and arms. Doing this asana daily for 3-5 minutes, can prevent worsening of scoliosis.
Benefits of trikonasana:
- It strengthens the spine.
- It also improves digestion.
- Reduces stress and cures anxiety.
- This asana also increases both physical and mental stability of the person.
- Perform Ardha chakrasana
Ardha Chakrasana (Half wheel pose) is very good for spine as it completely stretches the spine and also make it strong and flexible. It is very effective to reduce stomach and thighs fat. Patient of serious spine and hips problem (with curve more than 45° – 50°) should not practice this asana without consulting.
Benefits of ardha chakrasana:
- It increases the flexibility of spine and back muscles.
- It also relieves pain in neck and shoulders.
- This asana helps in regulating the blood pressure.
- Ardha chakrasana is very good for heart health.
FAQ
Q 1: What is the meaning of scoliosis?
Ans: Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. It causes one shoulder down and other is raised up. Body weight is shifted to side ward and it causes lot of pressure on one side of the foot. If spine curve is more than one time at different parts of spine it is called multiple scoliosis.
Q 2: Is scoliosis genetic?
Is scoliosis hereditary?
Ans: Yes, Scoliosis can be due to genetics or heredity also. Genes of parents transfer to their children. If parent already suffering from this problem, children can also have this problem by birth. But it is not compulsory.
Q 3: How to fix scoliosis?
Ans: Scoliosis can be fixed by doing following things:
- Swimming can help you in fixing this. Swim by using breaststroke technique for 15-30 minutes daily.
- Performing bending exercise in opposite side of the ‘C’ shaped curve for 5-8 minutes daily.
- Hold the horizontal bar with hands and let your body hang for some time (1-2 minutes).
- Perform Trikon asana and Ardhchakra asana in opposite direction.
Q 4: What are the causes of scoliosis?
Ans: Scoliosis causes are:
- Birth defects.
- Wear and tear in the spine.
- Difference in the lengths of the legs.
- Lifting weight towards one side in routine.
- Wrong standing posture.
- Unsuitable furniture.
Q 5: What is the scoliosis treatment?
Ans: Scoliosis can be treated by doing the following:
- Performing bending exercise. Bending in opposite side of the ‘C’ shaped curve for 5-8 minutes daily can help a person treat this problem.
- Hold the horizontal bar with hands for 1-2 minutes.Hanging for some time daily can also treat this problem.
- Perform Trikon asana and Ardhchakra asana in opposite direction of ‘C’ shaped curve.
- Swimming can also be helpful in the treatment of this problem. Swim by using breaststroke technique for 15-30 minutes daily.