3 Home Exercises for Spine Health: Improving Scoliosis in a Month

Try these exercises to keep your spine healthy and fight scoliosis.

Albina Gavrilovic/Shutterstock

Scoliosis is a common condition that can lead to chronic and spinal pain and reduced cardiopulmonary function. It may also hurt a person’s self-esteem. In a previous article, I explained scoliosis and its types. In this article, I will delve into the treatment and prevention methods for scoliosis.

4 Treatment Methods for Scoliosis

1. Braces

Back braces are recommended for periods when scoliosis rapidly worsens, especially for children experiencing rapid bone growth and for adults with spinal instability and degeneration after middle age. Their scoliosis may worsen quickly, and braces can help cushion or halt further deterioration of the spinal curvature.

Back braces are not recommended for people whose scoliosis is relatively stable. The main reason for this is that they are limited in effectiveness and may even result in side effects.

2. Pain Management

Pain is likely to occur when scoliosis causes the tissues around the spine to bear asymmetric pressure for an extended period. Severe pain may worsen scoliosis and diminish the effectiveness of spinal correction. At this stage, treating the pain becomes a priority. Of course, using the correct method to address the condition is the fundamental solution.

3. Surgery

The medical consensus suggests that children with thoracic scoliosis exceeding 45 degrees, lumbar scoliosis exceeding 40 degrees, or adults with scoliosis exceeding 50 degrees should undergo scoliosis surgery. However, different ages and surgical approaches may entail different risks, so careful consideration is essential.

4. Exercises

Most exercises focus on enhancing bodily functions rather than bringing about structural changes. For example, they aim to improve muscle strength, flexibility, cardiopulmonary function, and stamina. While these exercises may lead to structural changes such as muscle growth and fat reduction, they do not significantly improve body misalignment or scoliosis degree. These exercises include yoga, stretching, Pilates, weight training, core training, aerobic exercise, swimming, and more.