What to AVOID When You Have Scoliosis

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When diagnosed with scoliosis, patients are often concerned with what they can and can not do. Even when it comes to career choices, patients are concerned about what effects this might have on their scoliosis.

When a patient is diagnosed with scoliosis, it means they have an unnatural sideways curve with rotation in their spine.

Scoliosis has four classifications based on the size of the Cobb angle:
Mild - 10-25 degrees
Moderate - 25-45 degrees
Severe - 45-80 degrees
Very severe - 80 degrees & up

In addition to the size of the curve, there are also many different types of scoliosis. The most common is idiopathic scoliosis. This encompasses the majority of known cases of scoliosis. It also means that the cause of scoliosis is unknown.

The second type is neuromuscular scoliosis. This type is caused by Marfan's syndrome, cerebral palsy, & related conditions. This can result in two types of neuromuscular conditions: 1) the tissue surrounding the spine becomes laxed, or 2) the tissue becomes too rigid. With neuromuscular scoliosis, there might be issues in the spinal cord, such as cysts, tumor, or tether cord, that has led to scoliosis.

Another type is congenital scoliosis. This often happens during pregnancy, & it is detected at birth. When this happens, one of the spine's bones develops incorrectly into a hemivertebrae, a triangular malformation in a rectangular structure such as the spine.

These three types are the most common in adolescents. When it comes to adults, the most common are:
-Degenerative scoliosis: the spine degenerates slowly over time.
-Traumatic scoliosis happens when patients sustain significant trauma on their spine, such as an accident, and scoliosis continues progressing from that moment forward.

Scoliosis will often worsen, and the biggest triggers are growth & development, especially in adolescents as they go through rapid growth. However, it doesn't stop there because, as adults, gravity pushes the spine, causing scoliosis to grow slowly over time. Also, for adults, the progression of scoliosis is directly linked to the curve's size & the patient's age, so as patients get older, their scoliosis will start to progress rapidly at some point.

Movement is important for overall physical health, as is exercise. And we do encourage exercise because the body is meant to move in order to keep its natural function. However, the exercises a patient could do will depend on their scoliosis type and size and must be customized to each patient individually.

Exercises that cause strain to the spine are exercises to avoid. Such as compressive, downward force, or heavy impact exercises because these will put the spine under stress, and scoliosis injuries can worsen. Also, exercises that might put the spine in an unnatural position, outside of the normal range of motion, can bring problems to scoliosis patients.

Additionally, one-sided activities, especially causing strain on the side of the patient's curve, should be avoided.

Some of these are:
Football
Hockey
Soccer
Gymnastics
Dance
Ballet
Diving
Tennis
Golf

Regardless of the sports or exercises a patient does, there is no way to predict which actions during their growth & progressive stages will worsen their curve, only that the progression will happen at some point, & these exercises might make it worse.

When patients undergo proper treatment for their scoliosis, however, there will be very few restrictions to what sports & exercises they can do because the treatment should cover these possible progressions.

Being proactive in reducing your curve & using specific scoliosis programs that are properly combined to treat your scoliosis will offer you balance throughout your life, which is what we aim for here at the Scoliosis Reduction Center.

You can learn more about this topic here:

Ready for a consultation or want more information? You can contact us here:

00:00 - What To Avoid When You Have Scoliosis?
00:42 - Scoliosis Classification
01:16 - Idiopathic Scoliosis
01:39 - Neuromuscular Scoliosis
02:34 - Congenital Scoliosis
03:17 - Degenerative Scoliosis
03:39 - Traumatic Scoliosis
04:07 - Scoliosis Progression
05:41 - Can I Exercise With Scoliosis?
06:35 - What Should Scoliosis Patients Be Concerned About?
09:48 - Bottom Line

[stitch]

I'm from the UK I have scoliosis and as I got older I developed Kyphosis to I've not had any treatment other than pain relief unfortunately I just get different medication if I go to the doctors about the pain It now also affects my whole body, I'm glad I found ur videos they are giving me hope

[acereynolds]

I was diagnosed at 11 and had a 38 percent curve and it’s just gotten significantly worse and my parents don’t wanna do anything to help but I’ve been working on trying to help myself with exercises and not doing certain things so this helps a lot

[nancygonzalez]

I was diagnosed with Scoliosis when I was 6 years of age, now I'm 55 years old. When I was growing up, I had exercises also special shoes( one heal higher than the other ). Eventually, I went from a chiropractor to a Orthopedic Surgeon. I was always advised not to do certain things like gymnastics.y Scoliosis is in two different areas. Cervical and lumber. Lumbar being the worse one.

[ShaunaLeesSnackidies]

Cheerleading was a big no for me, but dance was fine and even helped. Running and heavy squats are a big no. PT, chiropractor and anti-inflammatory foods help. An MRI is better than an xray too

[Gtdr]

Thank you. This is the first video I found that explains scoliosis in depth. I now know what direction I have to go for deal with mine.

[dianaolivarez]

Thank you I am really grateful you are explaining on how this is very important to me and so many people, I have it on my neck not sure if my back. But, I surely appreciate your message to everyone. God bless you for what you do to help. Amen!

[kayokaflowers]

I’m 32 yrs old, I just found out last year that I have a 13 degree curve. I have pain in my chest, lower back and sometimes I get pain in my hips and legs. I made an appointment with my doctor to see how I can handle this pain. When I got diagnosed my doctors PA told me there was no treatment but your videos gives me hope. I want to get my scoliosis under control.

[kimberlyschevtchuk]

Very helpful. I very much appreciate the introduction that identifies the range and briefly describes the different types of scoliosis. It made me aware for the first time that there can be a connection between EDS and scoliosis. I appreciate the inclusion of the full range of scoliosis types, including those that that may impact only a small percent of the population. Often medical educational programs for the general public focus on the most commonly presenting conditions. Routinely educating all, i.e. the general public, patients & their families, and medical professionals, on the full range of scoliosis types helps individuals with less common conditions receive proper diagnosis.

[bigdawg]

Thank you so much for this information. I have severe scoliosis, and I have no choice but to have surgery. It is pulling my organs and is drastically affecting my ability to breath.

[youlamatou]

I am 64 and female. I have had scoliosis since I was a teenager or at least we noticed it then.
But doctors called me very lucky as my body is very flexible even at this age and I still exercise.
The worst thing for me is lifting heavy weight.
Then it hurts a lot. If I rest that day, the day after I do not ache.

[susanwald-os]

Wonderful information. Thank you for describing this condition so that everyone can understand it. I have an odd kind of story about my curvature. Here I am in August of 2024, and I just found out about my spinal condition; I am 70 years old! I've spent my entire life being active and unusually flexible until a car accident in 2013 at which time I fractured my L2 area. I was told this condition only manifests in your early years. Thank you for clarifying there are other ways in which this can develop.

[debrashorts]

Thank you for this informative video which gave me a better and deeper of scoliosis. I have never heard it explained this way. Now I know what other questions to ask my physical therapist. Thank you!

[BishopKing.]

I have thoracolumbar scoliosis. Idk how long I've had it either, I guess, for as long as I can remember. I never noticed uneven shoulders or uneven pant legs. However, I was in an auto accident. I fell asleep, and I hit an oak tree at 70 mph. the impact was double. I had over 100 breaks but none to my back. My left pelvis was broken, and I am titanium pelvis, and I've a bar in my tibia with 38 screws / plates in my left foot alone. As for my scoliosis, I just found out that I have it, and it is on my left side. I have degenerative arthritis/ Spondylosis lower back and cervical so bad I get headaches with much pressure in my right eye when in extreme cervical pain I always thought that I just had a painful balled up muscle left side only to find out it's the curve in my spine. Needless to say, I am absolutely MISERABLE, I get back fatigue right where the curve is as well when I walk for exercise. I thought perhaps it was a bad posture before being told my spine was curved. My pain Dr burns 🔥 my nerves left side lower back concerning my auto accident injury every 6 months, and I get injections on my right-side lumbar - pain and every 3 months injections in my neck as well every three months. When I stretch, I'm in extreme pain and often thought if I could decompress my spine somehow 🤔 that I might feel 100% better, that's just me and probably doesn't make sense. Forgive me for that. I'm extremely angry because of all the X-rays done, not one Dr ever told me I had the disability/ disease... I call it a disease because It feels like my spine is infected with a disease, and the pain never goes away ever. It's a nasty deep pain in my bones it's an ache, yet prickly and firey at times.

[Rick-vyzq]

I was just diagnosed with mild scoliosis. It’s in my lower back. I want to exercise. To keep weight off and etc. my doctor told me to yelp or google a chiropractor or physical therapy. I’m an adult 45. Years of age.

[wranglercody]

I’m 27. Born with mild scoliosis. I’ve been driving semi’s for work for years. I’ve been riding dirt bikes since I was 11. How bad is this job and hobby for me?
I’m in good shape 6’2” 155lbs. No other major health issues.
Thanks in advance, god bless.

[FreeRadtWins]

I was hit by two different vehicles 4 mos apart in 2020. Before then, I never experienced any problems in my back ever. Both people hit me in the front right side of my vehicles. 2nd one worse than the 1st. Since then, I’ve gotten worse even though I started treatment in 2021 as everything went into lockdown in 2020 due to Covid. On Oct 2022, my X-ray showed a 64 degree curvature in my lower left back (spine leans hard to the lower left) and now I can’t walk without a walker or crutches. I see great chiros who are preventing it from getting worse. Can a curvature be straighten if it’s that severe? I need to see a scoliosis specialist…but just thought it wouldn’t be harmful to ask in general. Thank you for your time and very informative video! God Bless You!

[eshwenderreddyaleti]

Sir I have 20 degree scoliosis but am suffering many other problems like shoulder pain back pain and whole body discomfort etc plz give me some suggestions

[olimpiamendez]

Thank you LORD for people who allowed themselves to do the mission YOU have given them to help those around them with physical problems. Their talents and gifts are your GRACE YOU WILL USE if the know that YOU OWN everything we have and are. YOU are glorified by honest and sincere doctors who serve others because YOU have given us life with YOUR OWN PURPOSE to serve YOU through the people around them. Praying that they recognize YOU, are the Great healer to help them. GOD BLESS ALL OF THEM. AMEN.

[TricolorJester]

My scoliosis is as bad as it is because I've had to rely on others my whole life to accomplish anything like hospital visits and nobody has been reliable, not even my parents.

[spiritangel]

Thank u again. Even though I'm only 49yrs old, i can't do any kind of sports whatsoever. When i do my grocery shopping, about after 5 to 10mins minutes, i'm in pain, and my head arches forward more & it feels like my whole head wants to fall off. When i bring my bins in, I get breathing problems. Last night for example ~ i was just doing my dishes & i had to stop and rest a couple of times, but when i finished, I was in excruciating pain around the lower lumbar region. I'm already very limited in my day to day life. I've already been told, that with my back as it is now. There's nothing i can do about it. Just take every day as it comes. Also, my legs r getting weaker and weaker. I actually felt like my legs were going to collapse on me. That really scared me. My balance is just getting worse, but when i was younger, i was told that i would end up in a Wheelchair. I can't even ride a bike. I remember a few years ago, i tried but my muscles in my legs, were weak as. I wasn't able to push the pedal. It was then, i knew my Scoliosis was getting worse, and quicker than ever before. At least i definitely know what is in store for me in the future, & i've had time to keep going with an open mind and expect the unexpected. I love music and humour, i laugh a lot. That will help & keep me going. It's always been my survival tool. Same as how Drs talk about CBT. I already knew what that was but didn't know there was a name for it. Thanks again. I enjoy ur videos, and i learn bits and pieces every time.