What to keep in mind while doing yoga with scoliosis

What is scoliosis? In simple terms, scoliosis is the curvature of your spine. It’s the abnormal lateral curve of the spine that’s mostly diagnosed at birth or during the early stages of adolescence. Your ability to perform yoga depends upon the intensity of your spinal curve. You can still do yoga but there will be limitations in terms of poses.

Scoliosis affects six to ten million people in the United States. This condition affects the alignment of your hips, rib cage, and shoulders. Scoliosis creates a spinal deformity. It also twists your shoulders and hips.

Types of scoliosis

There are two types of scoliosis:

• Neurological: This is the type of scoliosis that affects the muscles in the spine

• Congenital: This type of scoliosis is detected at birth when the abnormalities in the spine are apparent

Scoliosis can be categorized into two sections:

• The first is nonstructural scoliosis which is temporary and can be fixed by scoliosis treatment and scoliosis surgery

• When the abnormal curve in the spine is present from birth, caused by a disease or an injury, then it’s known as structural scoliosis

Symptoms of scoliosis

Scoliosis symptoms differ from person to person depending upon the severity of the curve, the pain they experience when they are doing certain tasks, and whether it’s structural or nonstructural scoliosis. The scoliosis symptoms include:

• Uneven shoulder blades - one shoulder blade higher than the other.

• The head is not centered directly above the pelvis.

• One or both of the hips are uneven. Either they are raised or unusually high.

• Rib cages are at different heights.

• Waist is uneven.

• The skin texture will have color abnormalities or rashes.

• The entire body leans on one side.

• Back pain.

• Breathing problems because of the reduced area in the chest for the lungs to expand while inhaling and exhaling.

What causes scoliosis?

The exact cause of a person’s scoliosis can’t be assumed or determined. However, doctors may identify the causes as:

• Spinal injuries or infections

• Defect at birth

• Muscular dystrophy (a group of genetic disorders that affect the muscle and result in muscle weakness)

• Cerebral palsy (a group of disorders in the nervous system that affects the way we hear, see, and learn things)

Scoliosis diagnosis

Scoliosis is diagnosed by examining the hand and back of the patient. The arms at the sides are examined when you stand straight. You will be asked to bend forward or backward.

Some of the other scoliosis tests include:

• X-ray

• MRI scan

• CT-scan

• Bone scan

After the diagnosis is confirmed, scoliosis can be treated by surgery, bracing, or observation.

Scoliosis and yoga

Yoga can be beneficial to people with scoliosis because it strengthens your back, decreases pain and stiffness, and most importantly, it improves your spinal position. Here are some things to remember if you have scoliosis and want to start doing yoga:

• Find out your scoliosis type.

• Start with meditation exercises and simple yoga techniques.

• Accept that your moves and posture will be different from one side to the other.

• Take a break whenever you feel like.

• Stretch every 10 minutes or so.

• Skip the pose that you feel you won’t be able to do.

Here are some poses you can try:

• Half Forward Bend (Ardha Uttanasana)

• Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) with a belt around a door for traction to lengthen the spine

• Locust Pose (Salabhasana)

• Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha)

• Side Plank (Vasisthasana)

• Side-Reclining Leg Lift (Anantasana)

• Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

Don’t start yoga on your own. Always hire a yoga instructor or go to instruction-based classes where a trainer will keep monitoring you. Avoid poses that hurt your back and work within the range of your flexibility. Don’t lose hope and think you can master the art of yoga in just one day.