Scoliosis - Managing Scoliosis

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• Chest mobility.
• Proper breathing. Aerobic exercises may improve or prevent a decline in lung function.
• Muscle strength (especially in the abdominal muscles).
• Flexibility in the spine. Patients who perform exercises improving flexibility in the torso may have improved curvature and less spinal twisting.
• Correct posture. Practicing correct posture, especially in front of a mirror, is an extremely important part of any physical therapy program. A patient who is accustomed to a curved spine may have the sensation of being crooked when first taught to properly align the spine. Practicing in front of a mirror provides a reality check.
• Patients must also learn to conduct daily activities while wearing the brace. Patients tend to comply with physical therapy in the period when the brace is first being used. They typically stop exercising when they have gotten used to the brace, however, and resume exercising only near the time the brace is being removed. Patients who don't stay with the program throughout the duration of brace use experience a weakening in the back at the time of removal.

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Casting

Serial casting is something that may be used in children with infantile scoliosis only. Candidates are generally those whose scoliosis is progressing. Depending on how quickly the child is growing, casts are changed around every two months for children younger than 2, around every 3 months for those aged 3 years, and every 4 months for children 4 years and older.

Improving Lung Function

Airway Ventilation at Night. Some research has focused on the use of airway systems, such as nasal continuous positive airflow pressure, for patients with severe scoliosis and reduced lung capacity. Patients use such systems during the night to force air into the upper airways and lungs. Such systems also can treat sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder.

Breathing Exercises. Breathing exercises may help improve lung function in children with scoliosis and signs of lung problems.

Heel Lifts for Secondary Scoliosis

When a difference in leg lengths causes secondary scoliosis, adding shoe wedges or lifts to the heels may be tried. It is not clear whether these devices reduce spine curvature.

Review Date: 04/06/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).