Physical therapy for scoliosis: 3 effective techniques you can try for improved posture

Poor posture is often associated with hunching over a computer for hours or bad ergonomics at a desk. It can also stem from a medical condition like scoliosis. 

Scoliosis refers to a sideways spine curvature that affects the evenness of the hips and shoulders. This can be a factor in developing habits like slouching or leaning to one side while sitting.

If you have scoliosis, there are a variety of techniques that a physical therapist may recommend to help improve your posture.

3 physical therapy techniques to improve posture from scoliosis 

Physical therapy can address symptoms of scoliosis through pain management, addressing muscle imbalances and increasing range of motion. If scoliosis is affecting your posture, here are three physical therapy techniques that may help:

• Spinal adjustment

Scoliosis can cause spinal misalignment, limiting joint movement and leading to poor posture. A physical therapist can use spinal adjustment techniques to address the misalignment and improve mobility for better posture.

Spinal adjustments refer to a physical therapist moving their hands in quick, controlled thrusts to improve your spinal joints’ range of motion and reduce tight tissue.

• Stretching

When your back muscles have stiffness that affects their flexibility and range of motion, it can contribute to poor posture because you’re putting excessive strain on your spine and causing muscle imbalances. A physical therapist can show you stretches that improve your spinal flexibility.

Stretches that a physical therapist may recommend to improve your posture with scoliosis include:

• Cat-cow 
• Child’s pose
• Chest stretch
• Core strengthening 

Having a sideways spinal curvature can weaken your core muscles. By strengthening your core, you can improve your posture by providing stability for your spine. A physical therapist can show you safe and effective exercises that strengthen your core muscles.

Core strengthening exercises that your physical therapist may recommend include:

• Pelvic tilts
• Planks 
• Bridges 

REPAIR SI has physical therapy techniques to address scoliosis 

Poor posture is just one aspect of scoliosis that can affect your quality of life. Physical therapy techniques can help with everything from reducing back pain to addressing balance issues.

At REPAIR SI, we can design a personalized treatment plan for scoliosis by considering your challenges, the severity of your curvature and your overall goals.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.